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CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHIVI/ICIVIH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


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D 


D 


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Couverture  endommagde 


Covers  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
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obtenir  la  meilleure  image  possible. 


The 
posi 
of  tl 
film 


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the 

sion 

othe 

first 

sion 

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The 
shall 
TINl 
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Map 
diffe 
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begii 
right 
requi 
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This  item  is  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  est  filmA  au  taux  de  reduction  indiqu^  ci-dessous. 


10X 

14X 

18X 

22X 

26X 

30X 

i 

V 

12X 

16X 

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24X 

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32X 

lire 

details 
jes  du 
modifier 
]er  une 
filmage 


6es 


The  copy  filmed  here  has  been  reproduced  thanics 
to  the  generosity  of: 


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first  page  with  a  printed  or  Illustrated  impres- 
sion, and  ending  on  the  last  page  with  a  printed 
or  Illustrated  impression. 


re 


The  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
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TINUED"), or  the  symbol  y  (meaning  "END"), 
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L'exemplaire  fiimA  fut  reproduit  grAce  ik  la 
ginirositi  de: 


Scott  Library, 
YorIc  University 

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filmage. 

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dernidre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustratlon,  soit  par  le  second 
plat,  selon  le  cas.  Tous  les  autres  exemplaires 
originaux  sont  filmAs  en  commen9ant  par  la 
premidre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustratlon  et  en  terminant  par 
la  dernlAre  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 

Un  des  symboies  suivants  apparaftra  sur  la 
dernldre  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  le 
cas:  le  symbole  -^  signlfle  "A  SUIVRE",  le 
symbole  V  signlfle  "FIN". 

Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc..  peuvent  Atre 
fiimte  d  des  taux  de  reduction  diffirents. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  dtre 
reproduit  en  un  seul  cliche,  11  est  filmA  A  partir 
de  i'angle  supirleur  gauche,  de  gauche  A  droite, 
et  de  haut  en  bas,  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'images  nicessalre.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
lilustrent  la  m6thode. 


f  errata 
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1  2  3 


32X 


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4 

5 

6 

# 


mem^mmigm 


BY 


JEAN    CLARKE, 

Author  of  "That  Young  Man." 


BOSTON: 
PUBLISHED   BY   N.  H.  WHITNEY  &   CO. 

1878. 


m 


I 
i 

i 


311 
^4 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  A.D.  1877, 

By  N.  H.  WHITNEY  &  CO. 
In  the  office  of  the  Librarian  of  Congress,  at  Washington,  D.C. 


I      ! 


j      1 


.:i 


THE 


BOSS   DEVIL  OF  AMERICA.    ' 


I. — PRELUDE. 


T7AIR  maid !  whom  some  call  sweet,  and  sweet 
-■•      if  good ; 

With  virgin  blushes  pure  and  rich  and  red 
And  warm  ;  unplighted  love,  yet  true  because 
Untried ;  unfaded  eye,  yet  bright  and  soft 
And  good,  its  own  most  certain  snare  and  bait 
Of  ruin  ;  smiling  face  and  yearning  heart ; 
Prospective  wife,  loved  and  loving  much,  — 
Fair  maid,  to  thee  I  speak  and  write. 


Young  man  !  possessed  of  strength,  wij;h  greatest 


strength 


To  fall ;  with  hopes  elated  high  above 


THE  BOSS  DEVIL  OF  AMERICA. 


\ 


II 


Intent  of  good,  or  virtue  of  resolve ; 

With  signs  of  greatness,  outward  many  bright, 

But  inward  few  ;  with  force  of  mind  and  soul, 

And  build  of  frame,  each  great  in  what  each  most 

May  yet  attain ;  beset  with  pleasures  good 

And  ill,  —  to  thee  no  less  this  theme  I  pen, 

That,  by  revealing  who  I  am,  thyself 

To  thee  I  may  present  as  well,  and  more, 

That  thou  mayst  know  the  man  whose  easy  prey, 

At  cruel  cost,  thou  art. 

But,  to  be  brief,  fair  maid,  young  man,  or  both ; 
The  young,  the  old  as  well,  and  all  who  read 
On  trains,  in  halls,  at  home,  or  as  a  guest ; 
EquaHo  all,  with  much  to  favor  all, 
Oil  printed  page  I  come,  in  measured  lines, 
Not  welcomed  more  because  in  common  verse, 
Nor  less,  but  rather  more  disguised. 

Of  all  the  devils  seen  or  hid  or  felt 

On    earth,    by    men  or  maids,  —  their  numbers 

great,— 
The  Boss  I  am.     To  my  imperious  rule 
And  sway,  to  every  impulse,  word,  or  wish, 
All  legions  doomed  or  dooming  by  their  powV, 


THE  BOSS  DEVIL  OF  AMERICA, 

In  ready  homage  wait  on  me. 

In  every  act  of  life's  broad  stage, 

The  high  and  low,  the  rich  and  poor,  the  great. 

The  small,  of  every  sort,  come  trooping  round 

My  feet,  to  crown  me  Victor,  Devil  Boss  ; 

Thyself  a  subject,  willing  or  compelled. 

Of  my  exalted  crown.     Such  is  my  rank. 

My  birth  I'll  speak  of  later  on  ;  my  age 
As  well,  or  mention  not  at  all,  as  may 
Best  suit  my  wish  and  plan.     My  realm. 
Already  told  or  hinted  quite  enough, 
Will  soon  be  clear.     Thus  briefly  introduced, 
Boss  Devil  I  appear !  and,  leading  on. 
Will  wind  through  wooded  paths  of  real  fact, 
Of  virtue  shipwrecked,  honor  lost  or  won, 
Of  maiden's  hopes  deferred  and  trust  deceived, 
Of  man's  high  purpose  blighted  or  retrieved, 
Of  home's  cemented  circle  sundered  far, 
Or  saved. 


IL  —  FAIR  ELSA. 


No  longer  girl,  yet  scarce  a  maid  in  years ; 

In  growth  of  heart,  and  mind,  and  form,  full  ripe 

And  pure,  fair  Elsa  loved.     Her  beauty,  rare 


8 


THE  BOSS  DEVIL  OF  AMERICA, 


And  rich,  invited  gaze  and  lust.  Her  face 
With  freshest  blush,  in  tinted  hues  of  pink 
And  white,  was  always  bright. 

Her  smiles  of  love, 
In  golden  sunbeams  flowed,  in  gentle  waves 
Of  inspiration  warm.     Her  auburn  hair 
Of  curls,  in  silken  tresses,  hung  or  lay 
In  ample  luxury. 

Her  form,  not  large, 
Nor  small,  but  rounded  out  in  perfect  shape 
And  symmetry,  excelled  perfection's  truest  moulds 
Of  fancied  thought. 


if 


I 


:t     ) 


Her  voice,  in  accents  sweet. 
Broke  softest  music  on  the  ear  and  heart, 
Enchanting  one  and  charming  both.     To  tell 
It  all  at  once,  in  her  combined  the  whole 
Of  beauty,  youth,  and  grace.    .  t 

Her  rank  of  noble  birth  improved  on  all 
By  gilding  all  with  wealth  and  lineage-fame  ; 
Her  noble  gifts  of  mind,  and  soul,  and  grace. 
The  wisest  Giver  had  bestowed  in  trust,  — 


THE  BOSS  DEVIL  OF  AMERICA,  9 

A  trust  she  would  have  kept,  had  I  not  come 

To   tempt,  and  steal,  and  curse,  and  blight,  and 

blast, 
And  waste. 

Her  easy  lot  sped  on  and  on, 
Each  day  bcholdin,i?  steps  advancing  high 
In  deeds  of  self-improving  culture  and 
Unselfish  love. 

Thus  born,  thus  reared,  thus  blessed, 
And  thus  improved,  —  an  object  rare  and  rich 
For  angels'  praise  and  devils'  bitter  hate,  — 
Fair  Elsa  lived. 

Her  ruin  fully  planned 
Was  my  delight,  since  she  was  fairest  of 
The  fair,  and  purest  of  the  pure ;  and  I 
The  chief  of  devils  boss,  the  ardent  task 
No  other  hands  save  mine  could  execute. 


III. — YOUNG   ROGER. 


Young  Roger,  bright  with  college  honors,  came 
From  class,  in  graduation  due,  to  try 
With  tact  and  talent,  love  and  wit,  life's  hard 
And  surging  tide. 


10 


THE  BOSS  DEVIL  OF  AMERICA. 


1 1 

i! 


From  callings  great  and  wise, 
And  multiform,  he  chose  his  own  delight, 
The  art  of  physic,  —  allopathic  school. 

Commanding,  tall,  erect,  of  noble  form 
And  noble  mien,  and  mind  and  soul  in  all 
Complete,  he  stood  in  youth's  gateway  of  life, 
In  equipage  and  armor  for  the  fight 
Complete  as  well. 

With  aims  above,  beyond. 
The  common  herd,  he  drew  the  lines  to  rule. 
His  life  by  wisdom's  plans  approved,  confirmed. 
The  rules  he  made  to  be  observed,  obeyed. 
Were  few,  but  firm  and  good :  The  truth  to  speak, 
To  seek  the  good  to  do  and  fellowship. 
To  hate  the  wrong,  were  fundamental  lines 
He  would  in  turn  observe. 

And  why  do  less  ? 
Of  humble,  poor  but  honest  birth,  his  own 
Unaided  way  he'd  pressed  to  this  fair  start. 
With  such  a  life,  though  short,  behind,  with  such 
A  prospect  yet  untried,  but  easy  to 
Attain,  ahead,  when  all  invites  that  way. 


..igji-Li  MinyuMmj-iiiw— 


THE  BOSS  DEVIL  OF  AMERICA, 


II 


IV.  —  YOUNG   ROGER  S    LOVE. 

When  scarce  eighteen,  while  yet  in  junior  class, 
Young  Roger,  still  in  sophomoric  warmth 
Of  youth,  his  honest  heart  and  noble  hand 
Had  laid  at  Elsa's  feet,  for  which  she  gave 
Her  own  betrothed.     Of  all  rewards  his  life 
Had  crowned,  this  one  was  richest  far. 

To  win  a  love  so  pure,  a  heart  so  high. 
Was  more  than  victor's  boast.    Her  veins  enriched 
By  royal  blood,  her  heart  of  love  enlarged. 
Enshrined  by  all  devotion's  brightest  fires ; 
Her  mind  illumined,  trained,  informed ; 
Her  beauty  unsurpassed,  and  yet  excelled 
By  grace, — a  prize  indeed  !  of  earthly  gifts 
The  best. 

But  greater  than  her  worth 
Of  beauty,  grace,  and  form,  and  higher  than 
Her  hopes  of  heaven,  and  deeper  than  her  trust 
In  God,  —  outmeasured  all,  her  love  bestowed,  — 
Young  Roger's  best  reward,  and  highest  prize. 


Nor  was  fair  Elsa's  love  without  a  full 


13 


THE  BOSS  DEVIL   OF  AMERICA, 


Return.     The  heart  of  him,  less  great  in  name, 
Less  reared  by  wealth,  but  nothing  less  a  heart 
For  all,  it  loved  as  strong,  as  warm,  as  great, 
If  not  as  pure  ;  and  loving  thus  he  loved 
Not  less  than  she. 


i 


:!i^ 


V.  —  YOUNG   ROGER  S   FAULT. 

\  oung  Roger's  fault  was  my  reward,  and  more  — 
But  say  no  more  just  now.     The  heart  that  loved 
Its  treasure,  altogether  won,  yet  half 
Secured,  with  such  unselfish  wish  and  plan, 
Lacked  less  in  generous  deeds  than  just,  though 

just 
It  strove  its  blessings  to  impart. 


'  It  was 

Not  wrong  that  Roger  should  have  many  friends,  — 
A  right  availing  much  for  me,  —  nor  wrong 
That  he  and  they  should  often  meet  and  chat 
At  hall  or  club,  if  meeting  there  implied 
No  other  fellov/ship  than  kindly  words 
Or  greeting  warm  ;  nor  in  the  thoughts  and  words 
Of  many  men  called  wise  and  good,  was  wrong,  — 
Their  social  glass  of  wine,  or  stronger  drinks, 


THE  BOSS  DEVIL   OF  AMERICA. 


13 


When  kind  occasion  warmly  bent  that  way. 

In  such  amusements,  wise  and  good,  if  good 

And  wise,  and  right  if  numbers  weigh,  and  best 

For  my  success,  lay  Roger's  fault,  the  old 

And  pious  people  will  insist.     If  right, 

Then  right ;  if  wise,  then  wise  ;  if  good,  then  good  ; 

Or  fault,  then  fault :  whichever  will  appear. 


VI. — FAIR  ELSAS   FAULT,   IF  FAULT. 

Fair  Elsa,  faultless,  yet  in  fault,  if  wise 
And  trusted  oracles  are  true,  erred  most. 
If  erred  at  all,  in  loving  far  too  well. 
If  truest  God  she  loved,  her  love  in  this 
Was  weak,  engaging  less  than  half  a  heart  and  half 
A  mind.     Her  rank,  the  riches  of  her  grace. 
Her  undivided  love,  her  hopes  and  best 
Resolves,  her  time,  her  prayers,  her  strength,  and  all 
She  had  to  give,  in  giving  which  was  right,  — 
And  law  of  right  was  love,  —  she  fondly  threw 
At  Roger's  not  unworthy  feet.     Alas  ! 
And  not  alas  !     Sometimes  such  love  is  best, 
Sometimes  the  worst.     Alas,  when  spent  on  him 
Whom  I  embrace,  though  worthy  in  himself ; 
And  not  alas,  when  borne  for  him  in  whom 


*  . 


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I '  ii< 


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14 


THE  BOSS  DEVIL  OF  AMERICA, 


My  intrigue  comes  to  nought,  a  victim  chained. 
In  this,  — if  this  be  wrong  or  right,  the  same,  — 
In  this  was  Elsa*s  source  of  grief,  if  grief 
She  had  at  all. 


VII. — YOUNG   ROGERS   MISFORTUNE. 

Misfortune,  —  born  of  fault  if  sages  tell 
The  proverbs  of  their  songs  in  truth  ;  and  born 
By  chance,  or  sent  by  God,  if  sages  lie,  — 
But,  all  the  same,  misfortunes  come  to  vex 
And  to  annoy.     A  plan  put  forth  to  shun 
Their  stings  fails  in  the  plan ;  for  all,  the  small, 
The  great,  at  some  time,  and  by  far,  the  time 
Most  inconvenient  to  their  ease  and  wish, 
Must  fret  beneath  their  scourge. 

Young  Roger,  no 
Exception  to  the  rule,  met  his.     'Twas  not 
Affliction's  hand ;  'twas  not  unvalued  love, 
Nor  broken  trust,  nor  lash  of  scandal's  tongue : 
But   debt,  its   food.     His  generous  heart  made 

friends; 
His  generous  deeds  increased  their  ranks;  and, 

thus 


THE  BOSS  DEVIL  OF  AMERICA,  15 

Increased,  expense  entailed,  unjustly  met, 
Or  met  by  putting  off. 

His  practice  grew 
And  thrived;    but    faster  grew  the  wants   (not 

needs), 
And  louder  grew  the  calls  demanding  means 
To  hold  the  wide-extending  social  list 
Of  daily  entertaining  friends.     Perplexed, 
Annoyed,  young  Roger,  ill  at  rest. 
Stood  hard  in  need.     His  wants  however  known 
To  me,  it  matters  not :  enough  to  say 
His  needs  my  pleasant  duty  was  to  meet 
And  satisfy,  or,  failing  quite  in  this. 
His  wants  to  pacify.     Philanthropy 
Could  move  my  heart.  Boss  Devil  though  I  was, 
But  only  when  its  Christian  deeds  of  love 
Gave  cloak  to  base  designs. 


In  Roger's  want 
I  saw  a  way  to  Elsa's  heart.     The  route 
Was  long  and  wind-about,  and  intricate 
With  turns :  yet,  had  the  way  been  easier, 
Less  int' resting  the  task. 


i' 


iki 


^ 


! 


i6 


THE  BOSS  DEVIL  OF  AMERICA. 


The  end 

Was  Elsa's  fall,  —  her  virtue  to  abase. 

This  fully  done,  and  I  had  reached  the  goal 

Of  devil's  highest  wish.     No  dart  of  lust 

Or  thought  of  sharrie  had  yet  imbued  her  heart : 

In  holy  thoughts,  in  purest  wish,  her  life 

In  gentle  flow,  swept  calmly  on  to  God. 

All  other  men,  most  other  maids,  my  base 
Designs  could  bring  to  shame,  with  greater  ease. 
But  with  less  glory  crowned.    With  some,  and  not 
A  few,  the  distance  left  to  fall  would  cause 
But  little  bruise  :  with  her,  embracing  all 
That's  pure  and  true  and  good,  the  distance  would 
Be  great,  the  fall  in  ruin  grand.     These  thoughts 
And  motives  led  me  on.     With  these  I  sped 
To' Roger's  aid. 


IX. — YOUNG  ROGERS   SIN. 

Misfortune  —  born  of  fault,  or  no,  to  me 

It  matters  not  —  was  brooding  sin  through  my 

Adventurous  aid.    Young  Roger  lived,  —  and  lived 

In  style,  —  from  Elsa's  proud  and  stately  home, 

In  distance  many  miles,  say  hundreds  six 

Or  more. 


THE  BOSS  DEVIL   OF  AMERICA, 


17 


Though  Elsa's  capture,  fall,  and  shame 
Was  chief  of  my  delights  to  win,  I  chose, 
As  most  expedient  to  my  plan  and  aim, 
To  tarry  close  by  him.,  in  friendly  aid,  , 
If  thus  I  could  appear.     And  thus  I  did 
Pretend  in  foul  disguise,  deceit,  until 
In  Roger's  name,  for  Roger's  sake,  she  heard 
My  fearful  plea,  and  blushed  with  shame, 
But  blushing  fell,  yet  falling  more  to  my 
Disgrace  than  her  distress,  and  this  was  great. 


Supplying  Roger's  wants, 
I  multiplied  by  many  fold  and  pow'r 
Their  number  and  their  force ;  and  this,  that  I 
Might  make  demand  for  much  I  had  and  wished 
To  give.     I  made  him  many  friends,  if  friends 
The  world  will  stoop  to  so  exalt  by  name. 
Nay,  this  and  more ;  I  brought  him  pleasures  new 
And  odd,  — too  odd  to  tell ;  enjoyments  sweet, 
If  sweet  can  turn  to  painful  sting  of  shame ; 
Amusements  rare  to  public  gaze,  or  sight 
Of  honest,  pious  men ;  and  over  all 
The  mystic  veil  of  secrecy  I  spread, 
Which  gave  it  double  charm. 


x8 


THE  BOSS  DEVIL   OF  AMERICA. 


!t!|    1 


i  \ 


kH    !     { 


In  this  strange  world  behind  the  screens,  — strange 

only  to 
The    good, — where    night    is    day,   and   day  is 

night. 
And  charms  are  multiplied,  increased,  improved. 
By  artificial  light,  I  led  at  will 
Young  Roger's  wayward  feet.     He  followed  on 
With  hesitating  step,  unsteady  gait ; 
And,  when  reluctant  to  proceed,  his  fears 
Or  doubts  of  wrong  were  lost  in  social  wine. 


U   \ 


1^ 


i 


Thus  on,  and  on,  I  led  young  Roger  to 
His  sin,  his  doom,  unconscious  he  was  led. 
The  way  was  long,  and  leading  down  in  scale 
At  every  step,  but  with  such  easy  slant 
As  not  to  cause  alarm. 

Had  Roger  fell 
With  rapid  pace,  no  wrecks  to  mark  his  path 
But  his,  slight  then  were  done ;  but,  moving  on 
In  slow  advance,  the  stream  of  ruin  spread 
In  wide  expanse,  including  hundreds  in 
The  train,  and  thus  worked  double  loss.     In  this 
I  managed  well 


(  :  (• 


N 


THE  BOSS  DEVIL   OF  AMERICA, 


19 


Impulsive,  yet 
With  firm  command  of  self,  as  some  would  say, 
He  sinned  by  night,  and  worked  with  honest  skill 
By  day ;  and  boasted  how  his  freaks  of  fun. 
Restrained  by  systematic  rule  or  law, 
Took  nothing  from  the  value  or  result 
Of  practised  toil.     And  so,  dear  reader,  if 
Boss  devil  you'd  become,  first  learn  to  lead 
Your  victims  by  the  hand  of  self-control, 
When  falsely  reckoned  so.     With  care  and  pains 
I  worked  to  show  young  Roger  all  his  good, 
And  cover  all  his  fault.     'Twas  easy  done : 
With  skilful  ease  I  placed  his  life  in  line 
With  that  of  better  men,  and  proved  his  own 
By  far  the  best,  by  far  supreme. 

At  length 
He  sinned  outright,  and  sinned  to  suffer  much. 
His  sin  entailed  disgrace  ;  to  cover  which 
Bred  crime ;  to  cover  which  he  spent  his  life 
For  nought,  and  fell  at  last,  a  proper  claim 
To  retribution's  doom,  to  pine  and  die. 


His  sin  was  this  (in  myth  it  must  be  told. 

Or  give  offence  to  those  who  read  ;  which  means, 


20 


THE  BOSS  DEVIL  OF  AMEKICA, 


^1 


To  steal  the  author's  bread) :  Within  his  heart 
I  bred  a  passion  great  and  deep  and  strong, 
The  birthright  of  the  flesh,  and  proper,  too, 
For  man :  its  presence  is  not  sin,  but  wise 
And  good,  if  wisely  held  by  wise  restraint. 


Ill       M 


11     - 


% 


Young  Roger  ooed  forbidden  fruit,  and  ate 
In  passion,  not  in  love.  In  this  he  wronged 
Fair  Elsa's  trust,  —  the  less  or  more,  decide 
Which  way  you  will;  but  wronged  it  foul, — and 

wronged 
Himself  as  well,  and  more.     Sharp  on  the  track 
Of  this  his  sin  —  another's  shame  —  came  twin 
Disgrace,  to  cover  which  demanded  crime. 
Alas !  and  crime  stood  near  at  hand. 


:!! 


I 


ill 


X.  —  YOUNG   ROGER  S   CRIME. 

That  sin  is  crime  but  older  grown,  is  plain 
To  most  who  read,  and  pain  to  most  who  sin 
Too  long,  I  may  assert  in  peace,  and  you 
May  prove  by  deeds,  in  grief.     Thus  Roger  did 
At  my  command,  request,  or  wish.     But  in 
His  peril  I  came,  a  friend,  or  foe  disguised, 
And  lent,  unbid,  black  counsel,  varnished  bright. 


■1 


V. 


THE  BOSS  DEVIL  OF  AMERICA. 


91 


He  listened  well ;  which  was  for  me  to  win, 
And  him  to  lose.     *'  For  Elsa's  sake,"  I  said, 
"  For  Elsa's  love,  for  Elsa's  future  hope 
And  joy,  cut  this  one  brittle  thread  of  life, — 
Though  in  the  stroke  you  sever  two, — and  thus 
Dam  back  the  floods  which  threaten  deluge  to 
Thy  name  and  hers.     In  this  affair,  use  one 
Of  many  tricks  to  thy  profession  known. 
And  let  her  quickly  die,  with  hers  and  yours,  — 
A  secret  better  in  the  grave  than  out. 
In  this  be  wise,  and  follow  my  advice. 
Make  haste!  the  clouds  of  shame  appear." 


**  Not  I  !  " 
Young   Roger   said.      "  Be    sin   my   shame,   not 

crime 
My  woe !     This  deed  to  impulse  strange  I  owe. 
Or  rather  to  thy  wrong  advice.     Had  I 
Not  met  thee,  boss  of  devils,  true  thou  art. 
And  heeded  thy  persuasive  counsels,  wrong 
And  black,  but  gilded  o'er,  this  shame  would  not 
Be  mine,  or  hers  by  deed  of  mine  ;  nor  had 
Fair  Elsa's  love  been  treated  thus.     Depart, 
Boss  Devil !  leave !  nor  speak  again  to  me ! 
We  part  to-day  for  life." 


22 


THE  BOSS  DEVIL   OF  AMERICA. 


\ 


\    . 


"  Young  Roger,  hold  I " 
Was  my  reply.     "  Your  sorrows  reel  your  brain. 
Think  for  a  moment  of  your  words,  I  pray, 
Ere  you  are  lost.     *  Be  sin  my  shame,  not  crime 
My  woe,'  sounds  well ;  but  hark !     Thy  sin  and 

hers 
Is  growing  crime,  and  soon  will  ripen  red 
In  harvest  of  disgrace.     Thy  sin  to-day 
To-morrow  is  thy  crime.     Between  one  crime 
And  two,  without  disgrace,  is  difference  more 
To  be  preferred,  if  both  are  lost  in  death, 
Though  death  be  murder,  than  to  suffer  foul 
Disgrace,  and  sweat  beneath  the  penalty 
Of  law.     Do  I  not  counsel  wisely,  man } 
If  so,  give  heed  :  if  no,  ignore.     But  weigh 
My  wisdom  well." 

A  pause  prolonged  ;  and  Roger  asked, — 
"  And  how  can  this  be  done  to  leave  no  chance 
Or  clew  by  which  the  deed  may  come  to  light  ? " 


ii 


till 


"  Pshaw !  Roger,  stop  ! 
Ask  not  of  me  to  teach  what  best  is  known 
To  thee.     I  counsel  what  to  do,  not  how. 
A  thousand  ways  I  might  contrive,  and  more  ; 


s 


THE  BOSS  DEVIL   OF  AMERICA. 


23 


But  why  should  I  perform  things  easy  to 
Yourself  ?    The  task  is  light.     But  come,  I'll  aid ; 
And,  while  we  plan,  let'^  drink,  that  plan  we  may 
With  greater  ease." 

"^  What  speed ! 

In  scarce  two  years  I'd  led  young  Roger  on 
From  noble,  pious  youth,  to  social  glass  ; 
From  social  glass,  to  deeds  of  sin  and  shame ; 
From  sin  and  shame,  to  plotting  murder  with 
No  other  object  than  a  view  to  shun  disgrace. 
Such  progress  cheered  my  heart. 

He  drank  of  wine,  at  my  request,  that  we 
Might  reason  well ;  yet  held  aloof  from  crime 
In  doubt  and  fear,  and  said,  — 

"  I'd  rather  die, — 
Die  thrice,  —  than  load  myself  with  guilt  by  this 
Tremendous  deed.     Contrive  some  other  way  ; 
Suggest  some  plan  less  biack." 

"  I  see  no  other  way, 
The  time  draws  near  when  Elsa's  hand  in  yours 
Will  join  in  wedlock's  holy  bond,  —  a  bond 


W-     : .  I 


ill 


.1 


24 


T//E  BOSS  DEVIL   OF  AMERICA, 


In  which  alone  relief  to  thee  can  come. 
Her  wealth  at  thy  command,  these  irksome  debts 
Will  disappear.     Then,  Roger,  thou  canst  raise 
Thy  head,  in  manly  claim  to  more  respect. 
Without  her  love,  without  her  hand,  without 
Fair  Elsa's  gold,  thy  doom  is  now  complete. 
There  is  no  other  way.     This  dreaded  deed 
Alone  can  bring  relief." 


XI. FAIR   ELS  AS   CONSTANT   LOVE. 

Come,  reader,  turn 
With  me  to  Elsa's  home,  that  we  may  bring 
Her  life  down  through  two  years  elapsed  since  last 
We  spake  her  praise.  \ 

When  Roger  left  his  class 
For  active  life,  he  pressed  her  hand  to  wed ; 
But  she  demurred,  and  pleaded  youth  a  cause 
Why  both  should  wait.     In  this  her  patience  was 
Not  wise,  though  nothing  else  a  proof  of  wise 
Resolve.     Had  she  gone  forth  with  Roger  from 
The  start,  I  had  been  robbed  of  both,  alas  ! 
Her  virtue  made  the  gap  through  which  a  stream 
Of  ruin  flowed,  to  turn  the  wheels  of  death. 


> 


.1    '-^^S,' 


THE  BOSS  DEVIL   OF  AMERICA, 


25 


Two  years  and  more  must  come  and  go  ere  she 
Became  a  wife  :  meanwhik  young  Roger's  hand 
Would  lay  foundations  for  a  hoiri^  ,  where  love, 
And  joy,  and  peace  might  reign  to  crown  and  bless 
Their  coming  wedded  life. 

About  his  task 
He  set  in  haste,  with  motives  high  and  great. 

To  his  resolves  I  lent  my  aid,  and  with 

What  issues  you  have  seen,  and  shall  see  more. 

But  through  these  waiting  years  young  Roger  oft 
Should  lean  on  Elsa's  love.     In  ways  all  good  — 
A  thousand  quite  or  more  —  she  came  to  him, 
Revealed  in  acts  of  constancy.     Her  pen, 
Devoted  as  the  days  and  nights  are  true  to  time, 
Did  much.     Each  letter  filled  with  Christian  words 
Of  counsel  wise,  but  less  of  counsel  than 
Of  love,  brought  inspirations  big  with  strength 
And  hope,  but  these  were  shipwrecked,  cast 
Away  on  seas  of  ruddy  wine,  without 
The  roaring  of  a  single  storm. 


But  letters  were 
By  no  means  all :  mottoes  and  precious  gifts     - 


i   ! 


H;  • 


l!'       > 


I:'! 


26 


TffE  BOSS  DEVIL  OF  AMERICA, 


Of  needle-work,  each  traced  with  lines  of  skill 
And  patient  toil ;  each,  token  of  her  love,  — 
These  gifts  from  hands  sc  fair,  these  lines  from 

mind 
So  pure,  and  hopeful  wishes,  well  from  heart 
So  true  and  good,  had  been  enough,  and  more, 
To  guide  young  Roger  on  in  purity 
Of  life,  had  I  not  crossed  his  path,  or  clasped 
His  hand. 

Besides  these  gifts  and  written  interchange 
Of  love,  five  greetings,  lasting  weeks,  increased 
Their  love,  confirmed  their  hopes,  and  perfected 
Their  trust.     At  each  of  these  young  Roger's 

heart 
Renewed  its  vows ;  his  lips  alone  declared 
The  lie  of  constant  past.     Fair  Elsa — blind 
With  perfect  trust ;  imperfect  since  unwise ; 
Unwise  because  abused,  deceived  —  believed, 
Suspected  not,  and  loved  in  majesty 
Of  soul  sublime  and  grecit. 


Thus  lived 
Fair  Elsa,  true  and  good  and  pure,  not  once 
Suspecting  less  of  him  than  she  herself 


\: 


.      THE  BOSS  DEVIL  OF  AMERICA.  27 

Could  be,  but  hoping  more.     Thus  waiting  long, 
And  praying  much,  poor  Elsa  was  deceived. 
Alas  !  if  only  that  were  all ! 


XII.  —  YOUNG  ROGER  S  VICTIM. 

Poor  Nellie  Waite,  an  orphan  child,  at  ten. 
Was  placed  at  school,  through  friendly  aid.     En- 
dowed 
With  voice  of  song,  and  blessed  with  music  in 
Her  soul,  she  learned  to  play  and  sing  with  grace 
And  ease,  and  perfect  tone.     To  teach  what  she 
Had  learned  was  her  delight,  and  more,  her  means 
Of  livelihood.     Nellie  was  young  and  fair. 
Possessed  of  beauty,  wit,  and  tact  to  match  ; 
Well  suited  to  enjoy  the  good,  but  not 
Well  suited  to  endure  the  bad,  of  life. 


From  self-supporting  toil  she  soon  became 

By  far  too  self-depending.     Nellie  Waite 

And  I  and  Roger  met  at  social  dance. 

Or  ball  full-dress.     I'd  met  young  Roger  long. 

And  many  times,  before  ;  sweet  Nellie  once ; 

Not  more.     My  interest  in  them  both  was  quite 

The  same,  —  their  overthrow  and  fall.     At  twelve. 


(1!:; 


f 


:  ;   I 


f 


■•'tl 


m 


28 


T//£  BOSS  DEVIL  OF  AMERICA. 


The  midnight  hour,  the  whirling  dances  broke 
In  intermission.     Lunch  was  served  in  rooms 
Across  the  entry  hall.     Thence,  to  refresh 
And  rest,  young  Roger,  leading  Nellie  on 
His  arm,  repaired.    My  time  had  come.     The  wine 
Was  introduced.     The  modest  lady  shook 
Head  in  kind  reproof ;  yet  wine,  champagne. 
Was  only  wine,  not  more,  and  why  complain .? 
Thus  reasoned  out  she  said,  — 

"  Kind  Roger,  sir, 
You  drink,  I'm  pardoned  to  observe. 
The  wine  looks  well,  and  drink  if  drink  you  must. 
But,  as  for  me,  I  must  excuse  myself 
With  your  consent." 

"Miss  Waite,  you  joke,  or  play 
With  words.     This  wine  is  light,  and  could  not 

harm 
A  creature  good  and  fair  as  thou.      Your  health  ! 
Drink  that  with  me  !'' 


"  Just  ha//  a  glass :  not  more, 
Kind  Roger.     Comey  obey  !     I  dare  not  trust 
In  taking  more,  or  even  this,  I'm  bound 
To  say." 


THE  BOSS  DEVIL  OF  AMERICA, 


29 


"  Pshaw  !  Nellie,  drink !     This  ruddy  wine 
Like  water  flows,  as  harmless  too.     A  ball 
Is  less  a  ball  excepting  wine.     I  hold 
Myself  to  answer  for  your  ill,  if  ill 
Results." 

Young  Roger  reasoned  well. 
In  this  my  training  was  complete.     She  drank, 
And,  drinking,  fell  in  honor  of  my  name, 
And  rank  as  Boss. 


XIII.  —  MURDER,    ONE   OR  TWO. 

At  my  advice,  at  my  command,  or  wish. 

Or  counsel,  —  one  or  all,  — young  Roger  gave 

Wise  heed  (if  crime  is  wise) ;  and  sought  at  once, 

With  speedy  hand,  to  cut  the  thread  of  life. 

The  work  was  soon  complete.     His  victim  fell 

In  death,  — as  at  his  wicked  will  she  fell 

In  life  to  deeds  of  shame,  —  with  one  faint  cry 

Or  wail  of  grief,  unheard  by  men.     Her  pain 

Was  great  but  brief. 


"This  awful  thing  is  done, 
And  done  by  me,"  soliloquized  or  thought 


1 ' 


i^' 


30 


THE  BOSS  DEVIL   OF  AMERICA, 


Young  Roger,  as  alone  he  sat  one  night, 

Refusing  to  be  comforted  by  wine. 

Or  wine's  resource.     "  My  plan  succeeds :  that's 

plain. 
Hear  what  the  people  think,  and  what  they  say. 
And  what  the  papers  print.     It's  false ;  but  lies 
Are  better  far  than  truth,  when  used  to  hide 
Much  crime.     They  print,  with  head-lines  black 

and  long. 
The  tale  of  Nellie's  grief ;  all  wrong,  but  right 
For  me.     It  runs  this  wise :  — 

"  *  The  suicide 
Of  Nellie  Waite  !    Though  fair  in  life,  yet 

FOUL 

In  death.     She  dies  to  hide  her  crime.* 


I  ^ir 


"Thus  ran 
The  head-lines,  bold  as  false ;  and  others  quite 
As  these  were  added  on  to  give  display. 
Then  followed  lines  in  common  print ;  to  wit,  — 

"  *  We're  pained  to  be  compelled  to  write  of  things 
So  sad.     Fair  Nellie  Waite,  whom  many  knew, 
And  knew  to  love,  in  some  dread  evil  hour 
Gave  heed  to  wrong  advice.     She  fell !     To  hide 


'■*i 


^ 


THE  BOSS  DEVIL  OF  AMERICA. 


3« 


Her  fall,  .she  drank  the  fatal  drug,  and  died. 
The  man  —  not  man,  but  beast  —  who  led  her  on 
To  shame  is  strangely  hid  from  view.     She  leaves 
No  words  behind  by  which  to  trace  him  out. 
Yet  we  predict  his  villany  will  be 
Revealed  in  time,  and  he  to  punishment 
Be  surely  brought  in  chains.'  " 

Young  Roger  read, 
And  trembled  more.     The  prophecy  might  yet 
Be  verified  !     He  shook  with  fear.     I  came 
That  way,  on  duty  bent,  and  offered  wine. 
He   drank,    and   drank   again.      This  nerved   his 

mind, 
And  gave  him  strength.      His  fear  o'ercome  or 

gone, 
His  conscience  dumb,  he  walked  erect,  and  smiled 
A  victor's  smile. 


'n 


.-■if 


I 


Poor  Nellie's  death  came  not 
By  her  own  hand.      Perplexed  with   grief,   and 

warned 
Of  coming  shame,  she  counselled  Roger  for 
Escape,  relief,  or  plan  to  overcome 
The  sad  mishap.     He  gave  attentive  ear, 


U'<' 


$2 


THE  BOSS  DEVIL  OF  AMERICA, 


And  then  advice,  and  then  a  phial  of  death. 

He  called  it  by  some  other  name.     The  dose 

He  ordered  her,  in  undivided  form, 

To  take  just  after  secret  evening  prayer. 

By  this  she  was  to  gain  relief  ;  but  by 

The  same  she  died.     Thus  managed  Roger  well ; 

Or  rather  I,  not  he.     This  was  my  plan, 

Not  his.     But  thus  died  Nellie  Waite  ;  and  thus 

Have  thousands,  fair  and  good  as  she,  by  me 

Been  led  to  early,  shameful  death. 


XIV.  —  FAIR  ELSA  S   DREAM,    AND   MORE. 

The  night  of  Nellie's  death,  fair  Elsa  dreamed 
Herself  in  Nellie's  place.     She  thought  her  shame 
Was  hers,  and  that  some  fiend,  the  author  of 
Her  woe,  had  sought  to  take  her  life ;  in  which 
Attempt  by  poisoned  draught  his  purpose  reached. 
The  fiend  she  did  not  know  or  recognize. 
In  one  short  night  she  dreamed  the  same  thrice 

o'er, 
And  morning:  found  her  weak  from  fear. 


She  wrote 


At  once,  revealing  all  to  Roger's  mind. 


THE  BOSS  DEVIL  OF  AMERICA, 


33 


•  The  dream,  she  said,  was  plainest  at  the  point 
Of  death.     '  Twas  hard  to  die.     She  tried  to  call 
For  aid,  but  nothing  aiding  came.     She  cried 
In  sobs  of  grief,  not  loud  but  deep,  for  him 
Whose  slave,  by  dream,  she  had  become.     But  no 
Response  from  him.     At  length  she  died  ;  instead 
Of  which  she  woke.     With  this,  fair  Elsa  asked, 
"  My  love,  what  can  it  mean  ? "  and  closed. 

Such  news 
Brought  grief  and  hot  remorse  to  Roger's  soul. 
He  sank  in  stupor,  self-condemned,  and  would 
Have  died  from  self-inflicting  wounds,  had  I 
Not  sped  to  bring  redress  and  cheer. 

"  My  dear 
Sir  Roger,"  first  I  said,  "what  means  this  woe. 
This  sad  complain  }    Why  languish  here }    With 

thee 
There's  nothing  wrong,  but  much  to  cheer." 


if 


"  Foul  fiend  !  " 
He  answered  back,  "  the  worst  of  devils  thou  ! 
Depart !     Return  no  more  !     I  hate  thy  name. 
Thy  face,  thy  voice!      I  would   that   thou   wert 
dead. 


34 


THE  BOSS  DEVIL  OF  AMERICA. 


No  more  thy  councils  shall  I  heed,  no  more 
Thy  poisoned  gifts  receive.     Depart,  depart  I 
O  cursed  fiend,  depart  I " 


"  Why,  Roger,  wilt 

Thou  thus  abuse  my  name,  reject  my  aid  ? 

When  fast  in  trouble  bound,  with  coming  shame. 

In  floods  quite  mountain  high,  I  found  thee  lone 

And  helpless,  in  much  want,  thou  didst  not  scorn 

To  thank  for  aid.     I  gave  my  counsels  free. 

And  counselled  wise.     To-night  you're  free  by 

might 

Of  mine,  and  durst  thou  scorn  me  thus  ?  Beware  I 

I  have  thee  in  my  power  somewhat.     As  friend, 

I  wait  to  serve  thy  needs  ;  but  make  me  foe, 

And  chains  of  fearful  strength  shall  bind  thee 
low."  -. 


11: 


"Boss  Devil,  leave  my  sight !    This  once,  not 

more, 
I'll  drink  with  thee  at  my  expense.     It  is 
The  parting  draught.     I  trace  thy  hand  in  ills 
Gone  by.     To  thee  my  every  fault  and  sin 
I  owe :  to  thee  I'll  owe  no  more  but  hate. 
But  come,  we'll  drink  farewell,  and  part." 


THE  BOSS  DEVIL  OF  AMERICA. 


35 


"Tisdone, 
Whate'er  thou  wilt.     To  be  dismissed  is  hard : 
To  be  dismissed  and  then  recalled  is  not 
So  bad.     To-day  I'll  go,  obedient  to 
Thy  word.     When  time  brings  sober  thoughts  of 

this, 
My  aid  will  be  recalled.     I  venture  this, 
And  wait ;  meanwhile,  good-day." 


XV.  —  YOUNG   ROGER   REFORMS   SOMEWHAT. 

Young  Roger,  rid  of  me,  by  wise  resolve  —  ' 

But  wiser  still  if  longer  kept —  began 

Anew.     'Twas  time,  indeed !     He  hid  the  past 

As  best  he  could,  and  best  was  poor  enough. 

He  saw  approaching  ruin  in  the  glass. 

Or  dram,  —  approaching }  nay,  at  hand !    Deep  in 

His  soul  he  cursed  the  social  glass  of  wine 

Or  beer,  and  swore  by  all  his  sin  and  crime 

Already  done,  by  all  the  good  he  yet 

Might  do,  by  all  he  dared  to  hope  or  wish, 

By  all  fair  Elsa's  worth,  never,  never, 

Again  to  touch  or  taste  the  liquid  fire  ! 


Young  Roger  reasoned  well,  resolved  as  well, 


36 


THE  BOSS  DEVIL  OF  AMERICA, 


But  did  not  carry  out  his  honest  wish 
Beyond  the  mere  resolve  ;   but  fell  again, 
And  rose,  and  re-resolved,  and  fell  again ; 
And  rose  again  to  make  his  vows  anew,  — 
But  vows  he  never  acted  out  beyond 
The  wish.     Thus  going  on  he  paved  his  way 
To  hell  with  good  resolves,  but  leading  none 
The  less  direct  for  that. 

^  In  struggles  hard 

To  gain  relief  from  my  infernal  grasp, 
He  battled  well  with  treacherous  foe,  but  fell 
As  all  must  fall  who  dare  to  meet  my  sword 
In   strife.      He  gained,  at   times,  some  vantage- 
ground. 
And  seemed  a  while  to  win  the  fight.     For  weeks, 
And  once  for  months,  his  lips  were  kept  in  pec^ce, 

from  all 
Unholy  liquors  dry.     But  lo  !  when  least 
Expecting  me,  I  came,  —  not  by  myself. 
But  one  (and  not  the  least)  of  many,  all 
His  friends,  professed. 


Yet  Roger  did  as  well 
As  most  could  do.     He  placed  the  cup  beneath 


THE  BOSS  DEVIL   OF  AMERICA. 


37 


His  feet  for  weeks  in  stretch,  and  grew  in  strength 
Of  moral  grace.     Thus,  step  by  step,  the  man 
Reformed  somewhat ;  yet  all  the  while  in  my 
Control,  with  my  consent.     Had  I  not  wished 
To  pull  down  better  men,  and  women  too. 
With  Roger's  fall,  I  had  not  yielded  thus. 


XVI.  —  FAIR    ELSA    PREPARES   TO   WED. 

A  few  short  months,  not  more,  the  wedding-day 
Would  come;    therewith    young    Roger's    merry 

smiles 
Once  more  appear  to  cheer  and  bless  her  life. 
She  had  not  seen  his  face  for  many  days, 
Or  pressed  his  hand,  or  kissed  his  lips  ;  but  soon 
She'd  meet  the  chosen  one,  with  him  to  part 
No  more. 


In  busy  preparation  for 
The  nuptial  day,  approaching  near  and  fast, 
Fair  Elsa  spent  the  few  remaining  weeks. 
At  much  expense,  with  greater  skill  and  taste, 
At  length  the  wardrobe  was  complete,  of  silks 
The  richest  and  the  best,  all  other  things 
To  match.     Fair  Elsa's  outfit  was  excelled 
By  nothing  save  her  love. 


38 


THE  BOSS  DEVIL  OF  AMERICA, 


^ 


The  father  gave 
Of  worldly  goods,  to  bless  his  child  and  him 
She  loved,  without  restraint,  —  piano  square 
And  grand,  the  richest  silver-plate,  and  gold 
A  fortune  quite,  or  more.  The  loving,  kind. 
Devoted,  wealthy  father  could  not  have  done  more, 
And  would  not  have  done  less. 


Fair  Elsa  loved 
Young  Roger  all  a  noble  heart  could  love, 
And  longed  to  spread,  a  willing  offering,  at 
His  feet,  the  least  of  all,  her  wealth  ;  and  more, 
A  long,  devoted  life  of  loving,  kind, 
And  generous  deeds. 


For  such  unselfish  work 
An  opportunity  came  soon  enough,  — 
Alas,  too  soon  !     With  Roger  kneeling  at 
My  shrine  of  lust  and  wine,  and  she  at  his, 
But  blind  to  all  because  deceived ;  —  with  this 
I  prospered  well. 


'^^  \\ 


XVII. — YOUNG  ROGER  WEDS. 

The  wedding-morn  had    come.      Young   Roger, 
bright 


\ 


THE  BOSS  DEVIL  OF  AMERICA. 


39 


As  varnished,  gilded  sin  can  look,  when  at 
Its  best,  came  forth  to  meet  his  bride.     He  looked 
A  very  king,  but  must  have  felt  much  worse. 
Fair  Elsa,  blushing,  pure  and  white  and  sweet,  — 
Her  only  fault,  she  loved  too  well,  not  wise 
Enough,  —  came  forth  in  queenly  grace,  to  meet 
Her  lord,  once  worthy  much,  but  now  much  less. 


The  solemn  vows  were  made.     To  love,  and  her 
Alone ;  to  cheer  with  constant  hand,  defend, 
Protect,  support,  forsaking  all  but  her,  — 
He  promised  well :  performing  half  as  well 
Would  have  been  manly,  placed  in  line  with  what 
He  did,  or  failed  to  do.     Yet  promised  he 
As  all  men  do,  in  truth,  in  hope,  in  love. 


M  : 


i 


Fair  Elsa  also  vowed  to  love,  revere. 

Obey,  respect,  and  serve  devoted,  to 

The  end  of  life,  till  death  should  part  her  hand 

From  his.     To  keep  her  vow,  her  solemn  pledge. 

She  consecrated  body,  mind,  and  soul ; 

And,  when  she  fell,  she  fell  defending  truth, 

Protecting  virtue,  and  rejecting  vice. 

Thus  vowing,  both  were  wed ;  and,  wedding,  both 


L»  SI 


40 


THE  BOSS  DEVIL  OF  AMERICA. 


Were  one,  or  should  have  been  ;  and  were,  except 
What  I  of  him  possessed,  the  union  of  their  hearts 
To  mar. 

Fair  Elsa,  led  by  such  a  man,  — 
*Twas  shame  !    Young  Roger,  leading  such  a  bride, 
So  pure,  so  good,  for  him  too  good  by  far,  — 
Was  also  shame  !     But  leading  thus,  and  led, 
They  started  forth  as  man  and  wife,  —  she  good 
And  true ;  he  trying  to  be  quite  the  same. 
But  trying  much  in  vain,  because  of  me. 


!i, 


XVIII. 


FAIR   ELSA  S    FIRST-BORN. 


■H?  !■ 


!'  • 


rl'l 


) 


In  course  of  time,  the  marriage  brought  forth  one 
To  make  the  number  three,  and  bless  the  whole. 
With  kiss  on  kiss,  in  multitude  beyond 
All   count,  the  new-made  parents  crowned  their 

babe. 
And  loved  it  much.     The  young  and  sweet 
And  anxious  mother  pressed  it  to  her  heart, 
Then  held  it  up  to  God,  and  prayed  that  he 
Would  mould  its  tender  heart,  and  guide  its  life. 
In  love.     This  prayer  might  have  been  answered 

by 


THE  BOSS  DEVIL  VF  AMERICA. 


41 


The  gift  of  much  beyond  the  prayer,  had  I 
Not,  later,  stepped  between  the  child,  its  God, 
And  her. 


The  child  was  no  small  blow  to  my 
Success.     It  won  young  Roger's  heart  from  me, 
To  home  ;  and  oft  upon  his  knee,  in  love. 
He  fondled  him,  his  infant  son,  in  great 
Delight.     This  holy  pleasure  almost  won 
Young  Roger  from  the  cup  ;  for  which,  in  turn 
Of  hateful  spite,  I  bent  with  greater  rage 
To  ruin  all,  with  special  aim  at  her 
Whose  greatest  pride  was  mother.     With  intent, 
No  less  to  claim  the  child  when  older  grown 
As  my  reward,  that  all,  with  all  who  might 
Thereafter  come  to  them  by  birth,  might  meet 
Below  to  swell  the  drinker's  woeful,  dark, 
Eternal  home. 


^11 


« 


t- 


n 


m 


XIX. MY    DEEP    DESIGN. 

To  make  sure  work,  to  be  in  time,  I  called 
To  aid  young  Roger's  scientific  mind. 
In  practice  wise  for  me,  but  woe  to  all 
For  whom  physicians  thus  prescribe,  he  lent 


I 


42 


THE  BOSS  DEVIL  OF  AMERICA. 


% 


I 


\% 


\k 


♦ 


His  aid.     Fair  Elsa's  frame  was  weak  and  worn, 

And  needed  strength.     Her  doctor-husband,  quick 

To  apprehend  the  want,  was  ready  to 

Supply.     The  chief  of  which  he  gave  his  wife 

To  bring  renewing  vigor  on,  to  give 

Her  health  and  strength,  was  brandy,  wine,  and 

gin. 
In  turns,  to  meet  the  complicated  needs. 

Such  treatment  filled  the  mother's  breast  with 
seeds 

Of  wicked  appetite,  by  nature's  plan 

Transmitted  to  the  child.     My  double  scheme 

Worked  well.  The  nursing  mother  thrived  in 
strength. 

And  gained  in  health.  The  threefold  treatment 
sowed 

In  her,  and  him  'she  fed  —  as  noble,  honest  moth- 
ers will  — 

With  milk  her  yielding  breast  supplied,  the  germs 

Of  sin  and  shame. 


With  such  a  plan  contrived 
With  doctor's  aid, — and  doctors  aid  me  much 
Beyond  their  knowing,  —  I  could  see  her  doom 


THE  BOSS  DEVIL  OF  AMERICA. 

And  his,  and  his  she  nursed,  approaching  near. 
Prospered  my  work  of  death,  Boss  Devil's  only 
Joy,  and  only  bread. 


43 


'  a  I 


XX. 


SUSPICION   WORKS   FOR  ME. 


I  work  in  many  ways,  through  many  men. 
And  by  a  thousand  faults  or  traits  of  wrong. 
At  times  by  envy's  hand  I  make  much  game  : 
A  jealous  mind  or  heart  is  always  worth 
Much  pains  to  me.     Ambition,  rightly  watched, 
Will  yield  returns  of  human  woe  complete. 
Not  less  suspicion's  arm  will  turn  the  wheels 
Of  crime,  if  armed  by  my  control.     Thus  did 
Suspicion  now,  as  you  may  see. 

A  month 
Had  scarcely  passed  since  Nellie  Waite* — by  her 
Own  hand,  as  people  thought ;  but  really  by 
The  fatal  drug  young  Roger  gave  with  foul 
Design  —  passed  on  from  life,  when,  lo  !  and  sad 
To  meditate,  a  clergyman,  young  and  pure, 
And  brilliant  none  the  less,  and  pious  more,i 
Was  thought  to  have  contrived  the  shame  which 
led 


\-k 


I/) 

(  - 


1: 


44 


THE  BOSS  DEVIL  OF  AMERICA. 


To  crime  and  suicide.     The  whole  was  deep 
In  myst'ry  hid,  and  hinted  at  but  here 
And  there  in  whisper-words. 

Suspicion  stooped 
Perhaps,  for  him,  and  acted  kind,  compared 
With  what  it  does  by  rule.     It  cleared  him  full 
Of  part  or  knowledge  in  the  wicked  death, 
But  held  him  to  account  for  shame  by  which 
The  crime  was  bred. 


I 


But  few  can  tell,  in  truth, 
Suspicion's  birth  :  all  men  suspect  in  some 
Degree,  all  women  greatly  most,  yet  most 
Deceived.     Suspect  is  infant  slander  born 
And  sucking  at  the  breast  of  doubtful  pride. 
Suspect  of  Rev.  Nathan  Field,  pastor,  — 
The  clergyman  spoken  of,  —  began  without 
A  cause,  and  where,  no  one  could  tell.     To  find 
The  source  of  such  report,  is  wisely  left 
Alone.     My  spirit  orooding  o'er  the  heart 
Begets  a  passion  to  traduce,  to  wound ; 
And  people  thus  possessed  can  think  and  speak 
Of  evils  never  done. 


ill 


THE  BOSS  DEVIL   OF  AMERICA. 


45 


i*  .1 


The  talk  broke  out 
By  women  in  his  church.     At  first  by  two 
Or  three  the  secret  close  was  held.     Alas ! 
The  women  keep  their  secrets  most  by  help. 
A  secret's  no  light  thing,  —  too  much  for  one 
To  hold.     A  woman's  back  is  slight :  she  needs 
Decided  help,  and,  most  of  all,  when  needs 
Must  be  to  hold  some  naughty  secret  tale. 
In  such  a  case  they  summon  ready  help  ; 
The  neighbors  all  turn  out  as  volunteers  : 
To  slight  their  proffered  aid  would  be  unkind. 
Such  is  the  way  so  many  people  hold 
What  seems  to  them  untold. 


■'*l 


f.; 

1!      , 


At  first  his  church 
Was  full ;  then  came  a  spell  of  dropping  off. 
This  gave  the  preacher  pain.     He  said  his  prayers 
With  double  force  and  length  ;  but  one  by  one, 
And  two  by  two,  he  missed  familiar  names. 
To  many  empty  pews  he  often  preached 
And  prayed.    Each  time  brought  more.    His  mem- 
bers shunned 
His  presence,  giving  no  excuse ;  and,  worse 
Than  all,  young  ladies  turned  in  cold  retreat 
From  every  path  he  trod. 


46 


THE  BOSS  DEVIL  OF  AMERICA, 


^. 


1^ 


I 


Poor  Field  !  he  could 
Not  preach.     Disheartened  by  a  thousand  slights, 
He  reached  well-nigh  despair.     Beside  all  this 
Young  Field  had  sorrow  none  could  feel 
Or  share.     He  truly  loved  sweet  Nellie  Waite, 
And  sought  to  win  her  heart  and  hand ;  when, 

lo! 
She  died  in  shame. 

At  length,  distressed  beyond 
All  name,  he  sought  to  solve  the  mystery. 
T^  Mrs.  Huntington,  his  friend  both  true 
And  tried,  he  went  to  find  relief.     He  thus 
Began  :  "  Good  lady,  tell,  in  Heaven's  name, 
What  means  this  chilling  wave  of  coldness  in 
My  church,  —  the  members  leaving  one  by  one } 
An  explanation  I  will  have>  —  must  have,  from 

God 
Or  man ! " 

**  Good  parson,  rumor  says —    There  is 
A  rumor  quite  unkind  of  thee  :  it  floats 
Amid  the  air.     No  person  says  it  all ; 
Yet  all  are  saying  some.     The  whole  is  bad 
Enough." 


THE  BOSS  DEVIL   OF  AMERICA, 


47 


*'  My  friend,  you  fill  me  with  surprise. 
Declare  it  all  at  once :  the  worst  I'm  bound 
To  know.     Say  on,  say  on  !  '* 


i:l 


"  Some  man  will  tell 
You  what  is  said.     It  is  not  right  for  me 
To  speak  of  matters  half  so  foul :  let  this 
Be  my  excuse,  I  pray." 

"  Good  lady,  tell 
Me  all !  I  must  have  quick  relief.     Let  words 
Be  guarded  well,  yet  speak  at  once ;  delay 
No  more.     Deny  me  this,  and  thou  thyself 
Art  guilty  of  traducing  my  good  name." 


"  You  know  the  sudden  death  of  Nellie  Waite, 
And  how  she  died  in  shame,  by  one  unknown, 
Misled ;  to  cover  which,  she  drank,  and  died 
By  her  own  hand,"  she  said. 


iJ 


"  I  know,  I  know ! 
But  what  of  this }    That  I'm  the  author  of 
Her  death,  her  sin,  her  shame }    Pray  hurry  on 
And  say ! " 


.1 
I 


48 


THE  BOSS  DEVIL   OF  AMERICA. 


"  The  author  of  her  death  ?     Oh,  no ! 
You  v/rong  yourself    somewhat.      They   say,   or 

some 
Suspect,  you  planned  and   brought   to   pass  her 


shame. 


M 


%  % 


The  reverend  Field  was  thunderstruck,  dismayed. 
He  turned  away  in  rage,  surprise,  disgust, 
And  half  revenge,  and  half  despair.     I  came 
That  way  by  plan,  and  offered  wine.     He  drank, 
And  drank  to  drown  his  woe,  but  all  in  vain. 
His  grief,  unkind  suspicion  took  for  guilt. 
And  shunned  him  more ;  from  which  he  drank 
The  more.     And  why  record  the  end  }  'tis  all 
The  same  with  all  who  drink. 


ill 


iHl!! 


XXI.  —  GRIEF   MEETS    GRIEF   DISGUISED, 

In  my  high  calling  labor  must  be  love. 

Or  shunned.     I'm  ruled  by  none.     Whate'er  I  do, 

I  do  but  for  the  joy  it  brings.     With  Field 

And  Roger  well  secured,  I  planned  to  lead 

Them  slowly  on,  whereby  I  might  enjoy 

The  work,  and  taint  as  many  lives  by  them 

As  pleased  my  royal  wish. 


THE  BOSS  DEVIL  OF  AMERICA. 


49 


On  pleasure  bent 
One    day,    I     brought    young    Roger    hand     to 

hand 
With  pastor  Field ;  the  latter  bowed  beneath 
His  load  of  grief,  the  former  smarting  by 
His  inward  guilt,  yet  each  unwilling  to 
Admit  himself,  in  any  sense,  at  my 
Command.     Since  this  was  so,  I  offered  wine 
To   both ;  and   both  partook,  which  pleased  me 

much. 
Their  conversation  pleased  me  more. 

Poor  Field 
Began  :  "  Say,  doctor,  tell  me  how  it  is. 
I  must  believe  in  fate.     Without  a  sin 
To  stain  my  life,  but  this  accursed  drink 
In  which  Fve  sought  to  drown  my  woe,  — 
But  sought  in  vain,  —  I'm  branded  villain,  fiend. 
And  driven  from  the  sacred  desk  to  pine 
And  die." 


S\\ 


"'■.i.' 


I! 


r  I 


I 


"  Dear  Field,  you  wrong  yourself,  and,  worse, 
The  God  you  preach.     If  guilty  of  no  wrong. 
Then  stand  upright  and  bold,  a  man.     'Tis  sin 
To  languish  or  despair,  or  lose  one's  hope ; 


so 


THE  BOSS  DEVIL  OF  AMERICA, 


'Tis  crime  far  worse  than  that  with  which  they 

charge 
Thee  falsely.     Be  a  man  !  " 

"  Your  words  sound  well, 
But  do  not  fit  the  case.     Were  I  as  you 
A  doctor,  then  they  would  apply ;  but,  as 
I  am,  they  do  not.     Preacher's  name  and  fame 
Are  sacred  ground  :  whoever  steps  thereon 
To  rob  or  to  traduce,  defiles  the  man,  — 
If  not  with  God,  with  men." 

"Is  there  no  way 

To  clear  yourself,  and  stand  once  more  quite  free 

From  all   suspecting  taunts.?     You  preach  that 

right 

Prevails,  not  wrong.  '* 

♦        ■ 

"  There's  just  one  way,  not  more : 
In  this  I'll  spend  my  life,  to  win  or  lose. 
The  prospect  now  is  dark  ;  but  hope  invites. 
And  I  respond,  and  struggle  on." 


"What  is 
That  way,  pursuing  which,  succeeding  well 
Will  set  you  free,  and  prove  your  innocence  ? 


»i 


THE  BOSS  DEVIL  OF  AMERICA. 


5^ 


u 


**  To  track,  detect,  expose,  and  bring  to  law 
And  chains,  the  author  of  poor  Nellie's  woe 
And  death.     To  this  intent  I  live,  and  this 
Alone.     In  this  succeeding,  I  shall  die 
In  peace.     And,  Roger,  listen  well.     I  here 
Predict  I'll  find  the  man,  and  prove  his  fault. 
This  day  I'm  on  his  track ;  this  day  I  meet 
Him    face*  to    face.      Base    Roger,    you're    the 

man ! 
The  author  of  her  shame  and  woe,  and,  more, 
Her  murderer  by  foul  design !     No  man 
Save  me  has  knowledge  of  the  deed ;  and,  armed 
With  proof,  I'll  bring  thee  to  account." 


<\ 


XXII. — ANOTHER  CRIME   CONTRIVED. 

Young  Roger  turned  from  pastor  Field  in  rage, 

And  fear  as  well,  but  turned  with  oaths  by  which 

In  vain  reproof  he  strove  to  hurl,  in  death, 

Tl^e  charges  made.     No  time  to  lose  :  I  flew 

To  Roger's  side,  and  counselled  what  to  do. 

I  found  him  friendly,  and  all  ready  to 

Be    taught.      At    times    his    body    shook    from 

fear, 
At  times  from  rage. 


i 

If.* 

k 


Sa 


THE  BOSS  DEVIL  OF  AMERICA, 


\i  'ma 


He  grasped  my  hand  ;  his  mind 
In  wild  excitement  flew  from  thought  to  thought ; 
Then  half  subdued,  as  watching  out  in  fear 
Of  being  heard,  he  cried  in  smothered  voice,  — 
**  The  awful  deed  at  least  to  one  is  known  ; 
And  how  ?     Oh  that  I  knew,  or  he  knew  less  I " 


k 
'!?; 

!:i' 


V  ill,"  ' 


In 


'.  ::!' 


ill! 


"  Come,  Roger,  come !     Compose  yourself  :  your 

mind 
Is  ill  at  ease.     I  thought  you  brave  and  true ; 
But  coward  thou  dost  seem.     Be  strong,  and  fear 
Nothing  but  fear.     To  falter  now  is  to 
Be  caught  and  hanged.    To  stand  against  each  foe, 
With  s.vord  in  hand,  means  conquest   sure   and 

quick. 
Come,  Roger,  drink,  to  stay  your  nerves,  and  give 
Your  mind  more  play." 

He  drank.     His  nerves  were  firm, 
His  mind  as  clear  and  cool.     By  these  improved, 
I  thought  him  ready  now  to  hear  my  talk. 

"  One  thing  is  certain,  Roger,  sir,  —  that  Field, 
By  some  way  hid  from  us,  but  wise  (that's  plain), 
Knows  of  the  deed  Ijy  which  fair  Nellie  fell. 


THE  BOSS  DEVIL   OF  AMERICA. 


S3 


This  knowledge  makes  him  fit  to  die,  unfit 

To  live.     Just  let  him  drink  ot  Nellie's  dose, 

And  die,  in  people's  eyes,  as  she  hath  died 

By  rumor  well  confirmed.     The  crime  enlarged 

Is  more  a  crime,  I  must  admit.     But  think 

Of  wife  and  child,  their  name  and  fame.     Should 

Field 
Succeed  in  finding  propf,  —  in  which  perchance 
He  may,  —  you  hang,  arid  they  in  shame  must  live. 
Your  only  hope,  your  only  chance,  is  held 
In  one  affair  :  the  reverend  Field  must  die,  — 
Die  soon.     Consider  well.     How  opportune 
The    case !       Suppose    him    dead    by    trick    of 

yours 
And  mine :  the  people  will  declare  his  guilt 
The  cause  which  led  to  suicide.     What  more 
Is  needed  to  complete  our  plan,  to  make 
Success  secure  ? " 

"  You  reason  well  and  sound," 
Young  Roger  said,  "but  deeper  lead  to  crime. 
Is  there  no  way  of  getting  out,  instead 
Of  deeper  in  }     I  hate  your  plan,  but  must 
Relieve  myself  from  him.     Suggest  your  best, 
Your  wisest  plan,  evading  crime." 


J' 


.rt 


'Mei 


Ml 


1r 
i 


54 


TJ/E  BOSS  DEVIL   OF  AMERICA. 


"  No  way 
Presents  to  kill  a  crime,  except  by  crime 
Again.     If  Field  survives  my  plan  contrived 
For  you,  expect  swift  woe.     Good-day.     I'm  called 
Elsewhere." 

XXIII. — elsa's  fear  and  trial. 

"  What  keeps  you  out  so  late,  my  dear,  —  so  late 
From  babe  and  I  .^     He  waits  with  me  for  your 
Return,  tlien  falls  asleep,  or  cries.     I  wait 
And  hope,  and  hope  and  wait,  expecting  your 
Return.'    At  twelve  I  fear;  at  one  I  doubt ; 
At  two  you  come  to  banish  both,  yet  leave 
Me  with  suspect  that  all's  not  well.     I  wish 
Jr  honor  bright,  my  love,  to  know  the  cause 
Of  this  delay,  which  almost  every  night 
Confirms  my  fear." 

Thus  Elsa  pleaded,  still 
In  love,  in  hope,  in  prayer ;  to  which,  with  blunt 
Reproof,  young  Roger  did  reply,  —  . 

"  My  wife, 
You  fret  and  worry  much  beyond  the  need. 
A  doctor's  time  is  not  his  own.     At  ten 


m\  ^ii:6  f 


THE  BOSS  DEVIL   OF  AMERICA.  55 

To-night,  I  rose  to  leave  my  office-rooms 

For  home,  when   some  one   called  in  haste.     A 

man 
From  over-drink  had  fallen  from  his  horse, 
And  broke  his  back;  or  hurt  his  spinal  cord. 
I  hastened  to  his  side,  and  did  my  best 
To  savv^  his  life.     I  called  physicians  to 
My  aid,  but  all  was  vain  :  he  died." 

"My  dear. 
He    fell    from    horse,  and    died,  but    died    from 

drink. 
May  you  not  fall  some  other  way,  and  die 
As  well  from  drink  ?    Think  well !    Your  breath  is 

strong. 
Your  eyes  are  red,  your  gait  forebodes  a  fall. 
O  husband  !  quit  the  drink  of  wine,  I  pray 
And  plead!" 


"  Come,  Elsa,  stop  !  you  quite,  indeed, 
Mistake  your  man.     Fm  slave  to  no  one  here 
Or  there ;  to  drink,  or  thee.     I  rule  myself. 
And  go  and  come  at  will,  and  drink  when  drink 
I  need.     I  hate  complaining  wives  :  complain 
No  more  to  me.     Fm  sick  of  life,  if  life 


1 


S6 


THE  BOSS  DEVIL   OF  AMERICA. 


Must  needs  be  broils  and  faults.     In  peace  my 

home 
Must  be,  or  home  no  more  for  me." 


1 

1 

ft':: 

f  '\ 

j 

1 

''.  ii 


She  wept 
And  sobbed  with  grief.     Poor  Elsa  prayed  :   she 

could 
Do  little  else.     The  infant  cried  :  it  knew 
Not  why,  except  because  the  mother  cried. 
Young  Roger  sighed,  and  suffered  more  than  all. 


XXIV.  —  A    PASTORS   SUICIDE,  SO   CALLED. 

"  O  ma !  did  ever  mortal  see  such  awful  news  ! " 
Spoke  little  Bess  in  great  alarm,  her  eyes 
Intently  fixed  upon  the  "Morning  Star." 
"That  man  who  used  to  preach  for  us  so  nice, 
But  since  who  fell  to  drink,  to  drown  what  folks 
Declared  his  guilt  or  sin,  is  poisoned  by 
His  own  device.     The  paper  calls  it —    Well, 
I'll  spell  it  out ;  its  su-i-cide." 

With  such 
A  fearful  theme,  the  scandal-mongers  thrived 
Right  well.     The  story  floated  far  and  near ; 


THE  BOSS  DEVIL   OF  AMERICA. 


57 


The  children  heard  what  parents  said,  and  talked 
It  o'er  among  themselves  with  eager  taste 
For  sensual  food.    No  blame  to  learn  what's  taught 
By  mother's  tongue,  yet  often  no  less  wrong. 
The  pastor's  death,  so  sudden,  unexplained, 
Revived  the  talk  of  Nellie's  iate.     If  doubts 
Were  entertained  before  of  preacher's  guilt, . 
They  vanished  now.     The  story  went  the  rounds. 
In  style  this  wise  :    "  Poor  Field,  before  the  bar 
Of  his  own  conscience  proved  in  guilt,  condemned 
To  shame,  and  scorned  by  public  eye,  sank  by 
Remorse,  and  sought  relief  in  death.     He'll  meet 
The  victim  of  his  foul  deception  at 
The  bar  of  God." 


I  'ill 


m 


u 


•1 


Such  are  my  plans  to  bring 
To  shame,  eternal  woe,  the  innocent ; 
To  blacken  virtue,  honor,  truth,  and  make 
The  pure  impure,  —  the  object  not  so  much 
My  present  joy,  but  more  to  people  hell. 


XXV. FAIR   ELSA  S    SECOND   DREAM. 

At  breakfast  late,  say  nine  o'clock,  or  more, 
Young  Roger  and  fair  Elsa  sat,  in  no 


'1 
ill- 


!■ 


58 


THE  BOSS  DEVIL  OF  AMERICA, 


Mean  style.     The  home  she  made  was  rich  and 

grand 
With  all  that  noble  wife  could  do  by  taste 
Or  means.     The  doctor  read  the  morning  sheet, 
And  talked  the  news  condensed  to  suit  his  wife. 
At  length  he  found  what  he  was  looking  for, 
And  said,  — 


& 


"  O  Elsa,  hear !     The  parson  Field 
Has  suicided  too.     Last  night,  —  this  morn 
At  two,  I  mean,  —  he  drank  some  fatal  drug, 
And  died.     Alas,  alas  !  that  men  will  drink 
Themselves  to  madness  thus  !     How  strange ! " 

*  *'  My  dear, 

I  had  a  fearful  dream  last  night.     To  keep 
It  secret,  I  resolved  ;  but  lo  !  this  news 
You  tell  relieves  my  mind  somewhat.     In  this 
It  is  fulfilled,  I  hope  and  pray.     The  dream 
Was  much  the  same,  almost  the  same,  as  that 
Of  which  I  wrote  to  you  some  months  before 
We  wed.     I  thought  some  one  had  poisoned  me 
In  manner  much  like  this  :   I  seemed  to  live 
Alone.     At  twelve  o'clock,  midnight,  I  sought 
My  room  for  rest.     It  seemed  so  strange !  I  had 


THE  BOSS  DEVIL   OF  AMERICA. 


59 


Been  drinking  hard  all  day  and  night  till  then. 

I  walked  with  reeling  step ;  my  eye  was  dim  ; 

I  feared  no  one,  nor  cared  for  any  thing : 

My  thirst  was  great  beyond  compare.     Upon 

The  table  in  my  room,  a  pitcher  small, 

With  water  cool,  awaited  my  return. 

How  strange  to  say !  it  seemed  a  custom  old 

To  find  the  pitcher  there.     I  drank  full  half 

The  contents  down  before  I  stopped,  so  great 

My  thirst  appeared.     This  done,  I  fell  upon 

The   bed.      Then   seized    by    fearful    cramps,    I 

groaned, 
And  did  my  best  to  call ;  but  something  tied 
My  tongue  ;  my  jaws  grew  stiff.     The  noise 
I  made  was  dreadful.     Oh,  how  great  my  pain ! 
In  this  condition  some  half-hour  I 
Remained.     At  length  a  lady  came  from  fright, 
And  rapped  upon  the  door.     I  could  not  speak, 
Or  rise  to  let  her  in.     She  called  my  name. 
I  partly  heard ;  but  much  confused  and  in 
Much  pain,  I  helpless  lay.     The  door,  by  force. 
Was  broken  in.     They  found  me  at  the  point 
Of  death,  and  ran  for  aid.     Physicians  came, 
But  much  too  late.     I  died. 


m 


1 : 


■'    ; 


6o 


THE  BOSS  DEVIL   OF  AMERICA, 


*'  This  dream,  my  dear, 
So  much  akin  to  that  I  spoke  of  at 
The  first,  excited  great  alarm,  and  filled 
My   heart   with    fear.     The    news   you   read   ex- 
plains 
My  dream,  I  hope.     But  why  should  I  dream  thus 
And  so }    Can  you  explain }'' 


\i. 


I* 


"  My  dear,  your  dreams 
Are   strange  enough.      The    first  you    had    the 

night 
When  Nellie  Waite  committed  death  upon 
Herself;  this  one  last  night,  —  the  fatal  night 
For  Field.     These  dreams  keep  sacred  to  thy 

breast,  — 
To  none  reveal.     They  strangely  point  to  what 
The  people  all  suspect,  —  that  he  contrived 
Her  death  to  hide  her  shame  and  his." 


**  But  why, 
My  dear,  should  /  have  dreams  so  sad,  so  full 
Of  woe  .-*     My  sleep  was  haunted  by  the  scene. 
I  fear  you  read  my  dreams  but  half  aright. 
They  come  to  warn  me  of  approaching  woe, 
It  seems  to  me." 


THE  BOSS  DEVIL  OF  AMERICA. 


6i 


"  Pshaw  !  Elsa,  take  some  wine 
And  egg.      Beat  well   the   ^^gy   then   mix  with 

wine; 
Or  brandy,  better  still.     You  need  it  much  ; 
You're  weak,  much  indisposed,  —  the  cause, 

perchance, 
Of  all  your  dreams." 


"  My  dear,  you  wrong  yourself, 
And  me  as  well.     No  brandy,  wine,  or  ^^'g 
Can  cure  in  this.     I  feel  a  mighty  wrong 
Is  somewhere  hid,  and  soon  will  come  to  light. 
By  rule,  I  don't  believe  in  dreams  :  in  these " 
Of  mine,  I  do.     The  preacher  and  the  girl 
Whom  all  suspect  of  self-inflicted  death 
Have  died  from  other  hands.     I  feel  it  more 
And  more,  —  I  cannot  tell  you  why,  —  that  he. 
And  she  as  well,  were  true  and  pure  and  good 
Until  misled,  until  abused.     They  fell  by  foul 
Design,  is  my  belief." 


i 


"  It  may  be  so, 
My  wife.     Speak  not  of  such  abroad,  I  pray. 
The  tongue  of  scandal  now  has  work  enough, 
And  more  :  mix  not  yourself  with  this." 


•I 


62 


THE  BOSS  DEVIL  OF  AMERICA. 


"  I  fear 
To  mix  in  such  a  plot ;  but,  love,  hear  me. 
If  intuition  tells  the  truth,  I'll  mix 
In  this  against  my  will.     It  has  some  claim 
On  us.     Oh  that  it  were  not  so ! " 

"  Oh,  pshaw ! 
The  women  always  prophesy,  and  dream,  ' 

And  tell  of  coming  woe.     Elsa,  adieu  ! 
Give  me  a  kiss  till  I  return."     This  said, 
Young  Roger  left  the  house. 


% 
I 


XXVI. — MY  FATHER  AND  MYSELF. 

Dear  reader,  turn  a  while  with  me,  and  leave 
The  story  partly  told,  of  Roger's  and 
Fair  Elsa's  fate,  for  other  scenes  :  when  done 
With  these,  again  we'll  trace  their  fortunes  to 
The  bitter  end.     My  father  and  myself 
I'll  speak  of  now. 


I 

't  ';|. 

\  ■ 


I  shall  not  speculate 
In  thought,  or  dabble  in  deep  themes  beyond 
Demand.     If  what  I  write  is  dry,  or  lacks 
The  juice  of  romance,  still,  I  beg  you,  read ; 


THE  BOSS  DEVIL  OF  AMERICA, 

For,  failing  to  amuse,  I'll  give,  without 
Display  of  words,  instruction  rare,  worth  more 
By  far. 


63 


At  first  let  me  repeat 
What  all  must  know.     My  father,  once  in  rank 
Exalted  high,  was  God's  chief  counsellor, 
The  premier  of  heaven.     The  story  of 
His  foul  revolt,  defeat,  expulsion  great 
Of  him  and  all  his  host,  is  wisely  told 
By  Milton,  not  inspired  less  than  those 
Who   wrote    divine.      The    same    deep    thinker 

pens 
My  father's  wisely  planned  attempt  on  man 
.And  wife  in  Eden  placed.     He  tempted  Eve, 
And  Eve  herself  in  sJn  drew  Adam  on ; 
And  both  in  sorrow  feU. 


"-I 


Much  later  on, 
When  mercy's  scheme  Ws  ripe,  a  Saviour  born. 
My  father  met  the  Son,  and  challenged  him 
To  fight.     Three  deadly  rounds  proved  quite 

enough; 
My  father  fell,  and  fled  back  to  his  home. 
Away  from  light,  the  haunt  of  fiends. 


h     •  ffl 


m 


% 


\ 


64 


r//E  BOSS  DEVIL  OF  AMERICA, 


He  called 
A  council  great,  the  greatest  ever  held, 
And  wisest  too  by  far ;  so  great,  so  wise, 
So  full  of  great  events,  it  marked  the  start 
Of  a  new  era  in  my  father's  realm,  — 
An  era  much  the  same,  the  start  of  which 
Was  marked  by  birth  of  Christ. 

The  council  did 
Not  rise  for  years  :  in  study  deep  and  long, 
Debates  progressed  in  secret  halls.     At  length 
My  father,  wisest  of  them  all  by  far. 
His  silence  bi'oke.     He  gave  instruction  deep 
And  grand,  at  which  applause  was  freely  made. 

"To  meet  the  wise,"  he  said,  "without  defeat, 

We  are  compelled  to  meet  them  with  their  own. 

Wise  only  can  confront  the  wise,  and  win. 

Or  shun  defeat.     The  High  and  Great  whom  once 

I  served,  in  rank  but  one  degree  below 

Himself,  has  sought  to  pluck  from  me  my  gains 

At  Eden's  fight,  by  incarnation  of 

Himself.     In  this  great  plan  he  links  himself 

With  man,  and  may  communicate  thereby 

With  him,  or  he  with  Him,  at  will.     This  stroke 


THE  BOSS  DEVIL  OF  AMERICA,  65 

Means  my  defeat,  unless  with  equal  stroke, 
So  much  like  his,  I  meet  him  on  the  line 
Cf  his  own  plan  and  thought,  and  thus  divide 
The  spoil. 

"  Let  this  be  done.     Like  my  great  foe, 
I'll  bear  a  son,  the  incarnation  of 
Myself.     In  him  I'll  link  humanity 
To  my  own  heart,  and  lead  the  race  as  He 
Has  planned  to  lead,  by  spirits*  power." 


J 


I  am 

That  son,  the  equal  too  of  him  by  whom 
I'm  sent.     And  lo,  I  come  to  do  his  will ; 
I  and  the  father  one ;  the  spirit  we 
Impart  proceeds  from  both  alike :  we  give 
On  equal  terms.     Thus  one  in  three,  and  three 
In  one,  triune,  we  stand  complete. 


XXVII. — WHAT    INCARNATION   IS,    AND    WHY. 

This  word  is  misapplied,  and  made  to  show 
Or  signify  much  less  than  I  perceive 
It  means ;  or  else  we  lack  a  word  complete 
Enough  to  set  forth  clearly  what  I  mean. 


66 


THE  BOSS  DEVIL  OF  AMERICA, 


Externalise  would  do,  perhaps,  as  well 
And  better  too,  yet  it's  not  broad  enough. 
A  cross  between  the  two,  embracing  all 
That's  signified  by  both,  would  do,  and  would 
Apply  with  equal  force  to  matter  and 
To  mind,  and  both  at  once.     But,  of  thei  two, 
I'll  use  the  first,  elastic  quite  enough 
To  serve  the  end  in  view. 


This  world 
Is  full  on  every  hand,  miscalled  by  me, 
Of  incarnation,  —  incarnate  God, 
Incarnate  man,  incarnate  devil  too. 
The    rocks,    the    hills,   the   seas,   the   stars,  the 

sun 
And  moon,  the  light,  the  heat,  the  air,  and  life 
In  every  form,  are  traces  of  the  mind 
Of  God,  —  his  thoughts  externalized.     They  show 
His  work,  his  mind,  portray  his  style  and  taste 
And  skill,  and  disposition  quite  as  much. 


The  ships  that  sail  the  mighty  seas,  the  rail 
That  spans  the  continent,  the  cars  that  roll. 
The  cities  proudly  built,  eleciric  threads 
Of  wire,  girding  earth  to  move  our  thoughts 


THE  BOSS  DEVIL   OF  AMERICA.  67 

By  flash,  —  all  these  and  thousands  more  ;  the  ' 

words 
We  speak,  are  traces  of  the  mind  of  man, 
His  thoughts  externalized  :  they  show  his  work, 
And  imitate  his  mind  ;  they  are  the  man 
Lived  out,  developed  by  the  nerve  and  will. 

The  envies,  spites,  and  quarrels,  deceits,  and  crimes. 
The  murders,  suicides,  and  wars,  and  sin 
Of  every  sort ;  the  brandy,  wine,  and  gin. 
Tobacco,  and  ten  thousand  other  things,  — 
Are  traces  of  the  Devil's  mind,  his  thoughts 
Externalized.    These  are  the  Devil's  secret  plans 
Made  manifest. 


Thus  God  and  man  *—  not  less 
The  Devil  too  —  are  in  a  race,  it  would 
Appear,  each  bent  on  incarnation  grand,  — 
Externalize  both  new  and  great. 
The  heart  and  soul  of  each  are  coming  forth 
Revealed  in  things  of  form  and  shape,  expressed 
Or  made.     In  this  grand  race  or  enterprise 
I  came,  the  Devil's  great  incarnate  son. 
To  mark  hell's  grand  achievement  of  all  deeds 
By  far  exalted  most.     Since  hell  began. 


68 


THE  BOSS  DEVIL  OF  AMERICA. 


.11 ' 

% 
% 


My  birth  of  all  events  is  greatest ;  yes, 

By  many  times  the  chiefest  thing  of  all 

My  father's  mighty  works.     To  earth  I  came 

On  mission  grand  and  high  and  great,  if  viewed 

From  devils'  stand  and  aim. 


XXVIII.  —  MY   SON,    THE    SECOND   BOSS. 

To  incarnate 
Myself  I  sought  to  do,  on  mighty  plan, 
On  mighty  scale.     My  plan,  excelled  but  by 
The  sweep  of  its  success,  has  filled  the  world 
With  traces  of  my  mind,  with  forms  to  match 
My  soul  in  shape.     My  incarnation  was 
Too  wide,  too  great,  to  be  confined  to  one, 
A  single  son  :  the  plan  required  more, 
In  number  beyond  count. 

The  chiefest  of  . 
Them  all,  the  second  boss  of  devils  has 
Become,  although  my  son,  grandson  of  him 
Whose  will  I  do,  who  rules  below.     His  name 
Is  Debt.     In  rank  on  earth  he's  next  to  me. 
In  crime  of  different  sort,  but  quite  as  rich 
With  spoils  for  hell,  he  spends  his  mighty  power. 


uill 


THE  BOSS  DEVIL  OF  AMERICA. 


69 


His  royal  sway  extends  to  all  mankind, 

But  chiefest  felt  in  the  New  World.     His  throne 

Is  there,  and  there  his  form  is  chiefest  seen. 


To  tell 
But  one  of  many  deeds  of  his,  by  which 
He  fills  the  earth  with  woe,  I  needs  must  write 
A  book  for  that  alone.     To  separate 
The  man  and  wife,  is  not  of  small  concern 
To  us  :  in  this  he  often  prospers  well. 
The  home  to  undermine  he  seeks.     To  pull 
It  down,  and  scatter  all  its  sacred  scenes 
Abroad,  is  his  delight  to  do,  and  mine 
To  see  it  done. 


I'l 


Of  all  my  sons,  I  love 
This  one  called  Debt  the  best.     To  him  I  lend 
Most  aid,  in  him  I  take  most  pride.     If  e'er, 
As  time  rolls  on,  men  should  subdue  my  throne 
(Which  cannot  be  while  time  endures),  this  son 
Called  Debt,  the  second  boss,  must  needs  succeed 
To  wear  my  royal  crown,  and  rule  as  chief. 
He  is  beloved  by  better  men  than  I, 
And  has  in  human  heart  far  more  esteem. 
While  I  compel,  coerce,  enforce,  he  wins,  — 


70 


THE  BOSS  DEVIL   OF  AMERICA. 


Ofttimes  the  better  way.     But  he's  restrained 
By  laws  of  men,  which  make  his  progress  slow 
At  times ;  while  I  evade,  defy,  defeat 
The  law,  and  run  my  course  at  will. 


if  v 


\ 


il 

Hi 


He  gives 
Employ  to  many  men,  and  grades,  by  ranks 
Or  class,  his  help.     The  first,  the  highest  of 
Them   all,   are  lawyers,   called  by  name.      This 

class 
Include  the  wisest,  smartest  men  of  earth. 
They  plead,  in  every  case,  in  his  behalf, 
On  legal  grounds,  and  give  him  greater  speed. 
Among  this  class,  the  best  of  men,  a  few, 
Above  the  rest  in  skill,  and  versed  in  law 
The  most,  called  judges  to  define  their  grade 
Of  special  rank,  decide  for- him. 

The  grade 
Or  class  below  the  first  is  less  esteemed 
And  less  revered,  but  feared  somewhat  the  most. 
They  go  by  many  names,  which  people  speak 
With  awe.     Constable,  sheriff,  and  police, 
In  turn  they're  called.     Of  other  classes  I'll 
Refuse  to  speak  just  now. 


THE  BOSS  DEVIL  OF  AMERICA. 


71 


Thus  held  in  high 
Esteem  by  best  of  men,  and  aided  by 
Their  skill,  their  laws,  he  prospers  well,  well  earns 
The  rank  of  second  boss. 


If 
.1 


XXIX. — MY   SECOND   SON,   AND   BOSS   THE   THIRD. 

My  second  son  is  great  in  being  held, 

By  men,  of  small  account.     By  this  he  leads 

His  victims  unobserved.     By  much  unlike 

His  brother  Debt,  he  seldom  works  alone, 

But  mostly  pulls  in  line  with  my  designs. 

I  often  call  him  roper-in,  for  short. 

Admitted,  often,  where  I  cannot  go,    '^' 

He  talks  of  me  in  due  respect,  and  makes 

Me  many  friends ;  and  later  on  they  call 

To  see  the  father,  in  respect,  of  course,  that's  due 

The  son. 


This  boss  the  third  is  stationed  on 
The  line  that  leads  from  me  to  honest,  good, 
And  sober  men,  half  way  between.     If  he 
Succeeds  in  finding  favor  at  their  hands, 
He  seldom  fails  to  bring  them  on  for  my 
Embrace.     A  go-between  would  be  a  name 


4M-. 


i! 


y> 


7a 


TJIE  BOSS  DEVIL  OF  AMERICA. 


Appropriate  indeed,  for  whom  you've  called 
Tobacco  or  Cigar.     The  name  I'll  leave 
Unchanged  to  suit  your  taste. 

This  son,  and  boss  the  third, 
By  climbing  slow  and  sure,  —  yet  not  so  slow 
When  we  compare  success  v/ith  proper  speed,  — 
Has  reached  great  eminence,  — a  source,  by  no 
Means  small,  of  revenue  for  nation  and 
For  state,  and  merchandise  for  safe  and  sure 
Investments.     Thus  he  has  become  and  is 
An  element  of  power  on  earth  ;  in  worth 
His  value  next  to  bread,  compared  with  gold. 


My  son,  this  boss  the  third,  is  wise  and  shrewd, 
The  wisest  of  my  stock  in  some  respects  : 
His  service  I  could  part  with  little  less 
Than  life.     No  less  the  foe  of  man  than  I, 
Yet  less  regarded  so,  he  gains  no  small 
Advantage  thus.     He  makes  demand  for  me 
By  secret  work,  so  well  contrived  that  few 
If  any  e'er  suspect  his  plan.     He  learns 
The  child  to  smoke.     This  learned,  the  boy  is  half 
Way  learned  to  drink.     And  smoking  much  cre- 
ates 


THE  BOSS  DEVIL  OF  AMERICA. 

A  kind  of  thirst,  that  nought  but  rum  can  full 
Supply. 

If  men  would  crush  the  drink,  let  them 
First  kill  tobacco ;  for,  should  they  slay  me 
And  spare  my  child,  but  little  then  is  done. 
Enough  of  this. 


73 


XXX.  —  MY   CHILDREN    AND    MY  WIFE. 

My  son  called  Debt,  the  second  boss,  I've  spoke 

Of  at  some  length  ;  as  also  of  my  son 

Tobacco  or  Cigar,  boss  third  in  line 

Of  devils'  rank.     These  are  but  two,  by  no 

Means  all  I  have.     The  others  I'll  not  speak 

Of  now.     Their  numbers  are  too  great  by  far. 

Their  names,  a  list  of  which  would  more  than 

fill 
This  book,  I  must  omit  to  give ;  but  chief 
Among  them  are  the  cards,  the  chess,  the  dice, 
The  keno,  faro,  and  all  games  of  chance. 
The  race-course,  and  the  bets  that  win  or  lose. 
All  these,  a  thousand  more  beside,  belong 
To  me,  were  born  to  suit  my  will  and  serve 
My  wish. 


if,. 


llli 


|l!T 

!:l 

If 


» 


74 


THE  BOSS  DEVIL   OF  AMERICA, 


My  wife,  if  wife  she  should  be  called, 
Or  wife  she  is  or  was  to  me,  of  which 
I  have  my  doubts,  since  if  I  call  !ier  wife 
I  must  abridge  the  term,  or  make  her  to 
Appear  the  mother  of  my  children  ;  but 
If  as  wife  she  failed  in  this,  then  this 
Were  all.     With  hand  in  hand,  since  I  began 
My  work  at  first,  we've  journeyed  on  as  one. 
We  make  a  perfect  match.     Each  lacks  and  needs 
What  each  can  give.     Her  age  exceeds  my  own 
By  many  years  ;  yet,  always  young  and  gay, 
It  matters  not.     With  lis,  so  well  preserved, 
The  greatest  age  improves  our  youth  the  best. 


;■  [\i 


\     \      • 


■  > 


She  shares  the  rank  of  boss  with  me.     We  reign 
Conjointly  on  a  double  throne.     The  crowns 
We  wear  are  joined,  attached,  —  an  emblem  of 
The  perfect  unity  of  aim  and  life  which  we 
Embrace.     Her  queenly  robes  in  royal  folds 
Entice,  attract,  and  lend  a  charm  by  which 
I  profit  much.     The  millions  bowing  at 
Her  shrine  and  mine  are  puzzled  much  to  know 
Just  whom  they  worship  most,  or  most  adore. 
A  few,  and  few  indeed,  embrace  my  wife, 
And  turn  their  backs  on  me,  without  respect 


THE  BOSS  DEVIL   OF  AMERICA. 


75 


Enough  to  take  my  hand,  or  recognize 
My  rank.     A  smaller  number  still  make  out 
To  worship  me,  ignoring  her.     But  all 
Mankind,  with  slight  exceptions  named,  embrace 
Us  both  at  once  with  equal  force  and  love. 
The  homage  paid  my  wife  the  queen  is  much 
Improved  if  warmed  by  heat  of  mine ;  again, 
The  service  paid  to  me  is  much  enlarged, 
Improved,  if  gilded  by  the  touch  of  her 
I  love. 

The  world  has  given  many  names, 
All  odd  and  queer,  to  designate  my  queen ; 
But  one  broad  term  is  quite  enough  to  make 
It  plain  :  that  term  is  Sensuality. 
On  her  I  can  depend  for  ready  help, 
If  help  I  need.     At  once  both  queen  and  wife, 
By  some  called  Lust,  she  matches  every  wish 
And  purpose  of  my  life  with  counter-plot 
So  well  contrived  as  to  secure  success 
In  every  plan.     Such  is  my  wife. 


•  XXXI. FAIR   ELSA   MEDITATES. 

I'll  speak  more  of  myself,  when  farther  on. 
But  meanwhile  let  us  turn  again,  and  bring 


i  ill' 


76 


THE  BOSS  DEVIL  OF  AMERICA, 


The  story  of  fair  Elsa's  life  of  love, 

And  that  of  Roger's  fate,  to  further  issues. 


Young  Roger  turned  in  rapid  haste,  and  left 
The  room.     The  dream  fair  Elsa  told  was  more 
Than  he  could  bear.     Out  in  the  morning  air 
He  felt  relieved.     Alas !  how  soon  he  met 
The  knowledge  of  his  latest  deed  abroad  I 
But  let  us  leave  him  to  his  fate  a  while, 
And  wait  with  Elsa  in  her  solemn  doubt 
And  saddest  fear. 

* 

A  woman  has  a  gift 

To  understand  what  men  would  never  know 

But  by  their  aid.     Fair  Elsa  had  this  gift 

On  tio  mean  scale.     Her  double  dream,  compared 

With  double  crime,  gave  fear  that  would  not  be 

Dismissed.     She  meditated  long  and  deep ; 

Her  fear  increased  by  doubt  and  by  suspect 

Of  whom  she  could  not,  would  not  name. 


VI 


if 


Her  doubts 
Gave  birth  to  plan,  and  plan  to  bold  resolve. 
She  loved  her  husband  more  and  more,  despite 
His  faults  ;  but,  woman<like,  she  wished  and  longed 


THE  BOSS  DEVIL  OF  AMERICA, 


77 


To  know  the  cause  of  dreams  which  seemed  real 
Facts.     A  thought !  had  Roger  ever  known 
Poor  NelHe  Waite,  so  long  since  dead"?     Perhaps 
He  had  ;  and  if —     what  ther»  ?     The  answer  was 
Beyond  her  depth  of  thought.     She  did  not  care 
To  ask  of  him  without  excuse ;  excuse 
Could  not  be  had. 

Bethinking  of  a  trunk 
Long  since  neglected,  stored  away,  unused, 
Once  kept  by  Roge*  ere  he  wed ;  and  led 
By  strange  impulse  of  doubt  and  fear,  she  bade 
The  servant  mind  the  babe,  and  went  in  search. 
The  trunk  was  locked,  which  made  a  double  need 
Why  she  should  look  within.     With  many  keys 
She  tried  and  tried :  at  length  one  turned  the  bolt. 


!!i 


ii' 


XXXII. — ROGER  DISSECTING   HIS   VICTIMS   BODY. 

Young  Roger  scarcely  reached  his  business  rooms 
Down  town,  when  summoned  by  the  law  he  stood, 
Dissecting-knife  in  hand,  before  the  corpse 
Of  pastor  Field.     The  jury  wished  to  make 
Post-mortem  sure  and  deep.     In  order  to 
This  end,  the  stomach  must  be  taken  out, 


78 


THE  BOSS  DEVIL  OF  AMERICA, 


Its  contents  then  revealed  by  doctor's  test. 
This  duty  to  perform,  the  nearest  man 
Who  practised  allopathic  school  was  called, — 
And  called,  as  fate  would  have  it  done,  the  man 
By  whose  own  hand,  in  base  design,  poor  Field 
Had  died. 


I.,   \ 


f  1, 


i 


\ 


"  And  must  I  come  to  this,  to  cut 
The  body  of  my  victim,  dead,  —  distort 
And  mangle  him  whom  I  have  slain  ?     It  is 
Too  much  for  me,"  said  Roger  to  himself. 
Before  he  drew  the  knife  upon  the  corpse, 
While  standing  by  its  side,  full  face  to  face 
With  him  so  cold  in  cruel  death. 

Had  I 

Not  hastened  to  his  aid,  the  task  were  far 

Too  much  for  Roger's  nerve.    He  drank  and  drank 

Again,  and  rallied  to  the  work  :  to  fail 

In  this  attempt  would  put  suspicion  on 

His  track.    He  cut  the  blackened  flesh,  made  black 

By  pains  of  death.     The  work  was  worth  his  life 

To  do ;  but  by  my  aid  he  struggled  through 

In  wretched  style,  —  a  style  that  would  have  put 

The  jury  on  his  track,  had  they  not  called 

It  fruits  of  over-drink. 


THE  BOSS  DEVIL  OF  AMERICA,  79 

From  evidence 
Secured  by  witnesses  and  by  the  test 
The  doctor  made,  the  verdict  came.     Tliey  one 
And  all  agreed  to  call  it  suicide.  ' 

• 

Poor  Roger  washed  his  hands,  but  could  not  make 
Them  white.     The  blood  for  vengeance  cried,  in 

stains 
That  could  not  be  removed.     His  head  was  bowed 
In  shame,  his  heart  in  guilt.      His  brain   reeled 

to 
And  fro,  beyond  control.     Life  was  not  life,  — 
But  aches,  and  pains,  and  fears,  and  doubts,  and 

shocks,        , 
And  fearful  expectation  of  result. 
He  would*  that  he  could  die,  if  dying  might 
Release  him  from  his  woe. 


His  ruin  was 
Complete.     I  laughed  with  joy,  in  pride,  at  all, 
And  left  him  to  his  fate.   .  Why  spend  my  time ' 
On  him,  a  wreck }     Fair  Elsa  I  must  win 
To  shame  and  death,  their  children  unto  woe 
And  shame  as  well.     With  this  to  do,  and  more, 
With  all  my  work  outstretching  wide  as  man. 


8o 


THE  BOSS  DEVIL  OF  AMERICA, 


1 


i 


I  must  leave  Roger  now ;  but  taking  leave 
I'd  give  him  one  more  call. 


XXXIII. 


FAIR   ELSA  S   DISCOVERY. 


The  trunk  I  spoke  of  just  before  revealed, 
When  open,  much ;  but  all  of  no  account. 
It  would  appear,  until  the  search  was  done, 
When  carelessly  her  hand  disturbed  a  till : 
In  this  a  single  letter  lay,  addressed 
In  female  hand,  with  Roger's  name. 

*Twas  more 
Than  she  could  bear.     With   woman's   mind   to 

know. 
She  opened  quick,  and  read ;  and  thus  it  ran  :  — 

"  O  Roger,  come  to  my  relief !  come  soon, 
I  pray.     This  sin  is  yours  as  much  as  mine. 
And  more  :  I  fell  in  your  embrace.     What  will 
I  do  }     You  said  you  knew  enough  to  save 
Mc  from  results.     In  this  you  failed,  or  will 
Fail  soon  unless  you  haste.     Prepare,  I  pray, 
Some  medicine,  in  taking  which  I  may 
O'ercome  the  deed  you  forced  me  to  commit. 
I'll  call  to-morrow  eve  at  five.     Please  meet 


THE  BOSS  DEVIL  OF  AMERICA.  8z 

Mc  at  your  office-doori  and  pass  the  dose 
Unseen  to  me." 

In  Roger's  wild  affright, 
Excited  by  his  first  resolve  to  give 
Her  poison,  he  forgot  to  burn  the  note 
We  just  have  read,  but  dropped  it  in  his  trunk  ; 
And  there  it  lay  for  years  untouched,  unseen, 
Unthought  of  too. 

The  note  fair  Elsa  read 
Once  more.    The  shock  she  could  not  bear.    What 

it 
Revealed,  when  aided  by  her  dreams,  was  plain 
Indeed.     She  took  her  bed,  and  tried  to  pray, 
But  all  in  vain.     The  letter  she  concealed. 
Securely  hid.    The  servant  tried  to  soothe 
Her  mind,  console  her  heart :  that,  too,  was  vain  : 
She  only  cried  the  more,  and  groaned  with  pain 
In  greater  stress. 


At  length  when  Roger  came 
She  said,  "  My  dreamy  my  dream  I  it  haunts  me 

much. 
It  will  not  be  dismissed.     O  Roger,  tell 
Me  what  it  means  I  " 


8a 


THE  BOSS  DEVIL  OF  AMERICA. 


"  Oh,  fudge  !  you  dream  and  fret, 
And  fuss  too  much.  Arise,  let's  dine.  Shake  off 
This  nightmare  !     Come,  be  ladylike  !  '* 


W^ 


"  Alas ! 
Dear  Roger,  take  your  seat  upon  this  stool. 
Shut  to  the  door,  and  let  us  speak  of  things 
Not  safe  for  other  ears  to  hear." 


He  closed 
The  door  at  her  request,  and,  trembling  like 
A  leaf  from  fear,  knelt  by  her  side,  and  asked, 
"  What  means  your  strange  request  ?  '* 


"O  Roger!  let 
Me  ask  of  you  a  question  hard.     Say  not 
That  I  am  childish  in  this  wish,  but  grant 
Me  my  request     I  long  to  know  I " 

"Of  course. 
My  child :  ask  on.  What  can  it  be  ?  what  makes 
You  tremble  thus  ?  why  fear  so  much  ? " 

"Ifear.> 
Why,  Roger,  you  fear  more,  and  tremble  more.       ^ 


:'«: 


THE  BOSS  DEVIL   OF  AMERICA. 

Explain  the  cause  of  this,  I  pray :  why  should 
This  be  ? " 


83 


"  Because  your  fear  excites  my  own. 
Aside  from  this,  I've  been  dissecting  Field's 
Cold  form,  to  find  the  drug  from  which  he  died. 
It  moved  my  nerves.     That's  all :  ask  on." 

"Well,  tell 
Me  this :  Did  you  know  Nellie  Waite,  who  died 
Some  years  ago,  from  poison  drank, — who  died 
The  night  of  my  first  awful  dream  ? " 

"I  did. 
That  is,  I  saw  her  pass  from  day  to  day ; 
And  may  have  met  her  once  or  twice,  not  more. 
At  hall    or    church.      But    why    this    question, 
pray  ? " 

"  O  husband,  that's  not  all  I    Confess  the  truth, 
I  pray.     My  heart  is  breaking  fast.     My  love 
For  thee  is  stronger  as  I  sink ;  I'll  love 
Till    death;   but,    ere  this    monster   deed   shall 

break 
My  heart,  confess  to  me  the  truth." 


:••,!! ! 


t!)  i 


tfe: 

•^1 


II 


m 


84 


THE  BOSS  DEVIL  OF  AMERICA, 


"  What  truth 
Shall  I  confess  ?    Explain  yourself !    Be  quick ! 
What  mystery  hid  from  me  is  this  that  tears 
Thy  breast  ?  I*ii  stand  suspense  no  more." 

"  Shall  you 
Confess  to  me,  or  I  reveal  to  you 
What  you  already  know  ?     Come,  husband,  tell 
The  whole  to  me,  your  truest  friend,  your  wife. 
What  secret  should  you  keep  from  me  ?  *' 


>■ 


XXXIV. — I   PAUSE,    MY  WORK   REVIEW. 

I'm  anxious  that  in  giving  Elsa's  fate. 
And  telling  Roger's  end,  the  reader  will 
Become  informed  of  me,  and  how  I  work 
The  work  of  woe  and  death.     In  order  to 
This  end,  I'll  change  a  while,  and  speak  more  of 
Myself.     Returning  soon,  we'll  bring  the  tale 
Begun  to  scenes  of  greater  woe. 


I'll  show 
You  how  I  work  the  work  of  sin  and  death. 
'Tis  easy  told,  yet  hard  to  understand. 
I'm  not  confined  to  any  place,  or  time. 


THE  BOSS  DEVIL  OF  AMERICA. 


8S 


Or  special  form :  all  times  and  places  are 
At  my  command,  all  forms  and  shapes  I  own. 
I  work  on  system  well  contrived,  and  well 
Arranged,  adapted  well  to  human  wants 
And  human  weakness.     I  begin  on  men 
While  yet  unborn.     As  God  has  linked  himself 
To  man  by  his  grand  scheme,  uniting  two  — 
The  natures  human  and  divine  —  in  one, 
And  giving  course  for  spirit  force  to  flow 
From  heart  of  God  to  heart  of  man,  the  last 
To  warm  and  bless  thereby,  —  so  I  by  birth 
Contrived,  by  incarnation  fixed  and  done. 
Have  linked  the  Devil's  heart  with  heart  of  man, 
And  made  a  track  or  cord  on  which  may  flow 
The  Devil's  spirit  from  the  mint  of  hell,   • 
Where  it  is  forged  to  fill  the  Devil's  heart, 
To  hearts  of  men  ;  and,  flowing  fast  and  broad 
And  warm,  has  well  infused  the  stock  of  man. 
But  few  can  boast  complete  exception  from 
My  blood.      There's   scarce  a  man   or  maid  on 

earth 
In  whose  pent  veins  some  4rop  of    blood  sur- 
charged 
With  breath  of  mine,  flows  not.     If  not  received 
By  my  embrace  themselves,  they  brought  it  with 


•  I 


86 


TJ/£  BOSS  DEVIL   OF  AMERICA. 


Them  by  their  birth,  from  mother's  veins.     Thus 

man 
Has  mixed  his  nature  with  my  own,  by  hell's 
Wise  scheme  of  fiendish  incarnation  of 
My  birth  before  described. 


I  live  and  work 
Opposed  to  Christ.     He  is  my  foe  by  birth, 
By  nature  too.     We  met  in  conflict  sore, 
And  fought  alone.     He  left  me  prostrate  on 
The  sands  of  that  wild  wilderness  in  which 
He  fasted  forty  days  and  nights.     I  rose 
Resolved  to  conquer  yet,  or,  failing  this. 
To  capture  half  the  spoils  of  earth.     We  meet. 
The  two  incarnate  sons.     Our  weapons  are 
The  same,  only  reversed  :  the  truth  his  sword ; 
The  lie  is  mine ;  and  both  are  wielded  by 
A  spirit  sent. 

Men  love,  embrace  us  both. 
And  hate  us  both.     On  this  we  are  at  par. 
With  difference  yet  in  favor  of  my  case. 
My  latest  dodge  has  been  to  dress  in  white. 
To  imitate  the  saint  of  God,  and,  armed 
With  a  physician's  recommend,  to  gain 


r  ! 


THE  BOSS  DEVIL  VF  AMERICA. 


«7 


Admission  to  the  Saviour's  ranks.     In  this 
I  meet  with  great  success,  and  push  with  ease 
My  trusted  subjects  in  as  born  of  God. 


From  first  to  last  has  been  my  plan  and  aim 
To  follow  each  design  of  Christ,  my  foe, 
And  meet  him  everywhere  on  line  with  his 
Own    scheme.       He    sent    forth    preachers: 

have  I. 
He  builds  and  sets  a  house  apart  to  teach 
His  way  and  will :  I've  ten  to  one  of  his. 
He  bands  mankind  in  circles  held  m  form 
By  cords  of  love  and  fellowship  :  in  this 
I  more  than  match  him  everywhere. 


so 


I 


In  Boston,  Mass.,  his  churches  number  up 
To  fifty-five  and  more.     In  that  same  Hub 
Mine  number  thousands  nearly  three.     In  this 
I  am  ahead,  you  see,  by  far.     Again, 
The  numbers  that  attend  on  his  are  few 
Compared  with  those  who  come  in  multitude 
To  worship  at  my  shrine.     But  why  compare  ? 
If    numbers    tell,  —  and    count    them    here 

earth 
Or  down  in  hell,  —  I've  far  outran  my  foe. 


on 


88 


THE  BOSS  DEVIL  OF  AMERICA, 


The  fall  of  Elsa,  and  of  Roger  too, 
The  fate  of  Nellie  Waite,  and  doom  of  Field, 
Are  only  sparks  that  fly  from  my  machine 
Which  turns  out  human  woe. 


V\ 


XXXV.  —  POOR  ROGERS  CONFESSION. 

Young  Roger,  though  by  Elsa  pressed  with  tears, 
Would  not  confess,  but  stoutly  met  the  whole 
With  cunning  artifice.     Alas  !     How  soon 
His  race  was  run !     Suspicion  fell  on  him  ; 
And,  e*er  he  knew  the  rumor  was  afloat, 
Detectives  got  the  proper  thread,  and,  stitch 
By  stitch,  unravelled  back,  revealing  all 
The  crime.     Young  Roger,  bound  in  chains,  was 

cast 
By  cruel  hands  behind  unyielding  bars 
Of  iron  stout  and  strong,  to  try  his  hand 
At  prison  life,  and  wait  the  coming  trial. 


This  gave  him  time  to  meditate,  to  weigh 
The  case.     I  sought  admission  to  his  cell. 
The  jailer  would  not  let  me  in,  in  form ; 
And  so  I  sent  my  spirit,  to  reques*: 
A  message  stating  what,  if  aught,  my  hand 


THE  BOSS  DEVIL   OF  AMERICA. 


Micrht  do.     I  did  this  but  to  mock  his  woe. 


«9 


He  howled  with  pain. 

The  trial  soon  came  on. 
I  stood  in  high  esteem  with  judge,  and  with 
The  counsel  for  the  state,  and  for  the  man 
Arraigned.     The  jury,  all  but  one,  were  friends 
Of  mine.     By  this  good  fortune  I  was  asked 
To  take  a  seat  beside  the  judge.     I  did, 
And  was  in  greatest  measure  entertained. 


i 
1 


The  trial  was  short :  the  counsel  finished  soon  ; 
The  jury  all  agreed  that  he  commit 
The  crimes,  and,  thus  believing,  said  through  one 
Who's  styled  foreman  :  "  Guilty ! " 


The  judge  pronounced,  with  great  effect  on  all 
Who  heard :    **  Young  Roger,  you    have    sinned 

against 
The  majesty  of  law,  and  you  must  hang 
Until  you  die.     May  God  have  mercy  on 
Your  soul ! " 


k 


Young  Roger  wept,  then  nerved  himself 
To  die.     The  fatal  day  soon  came.     With  rope 


if 


I 


90 


THE  BOSS  DEVIL  OF  AMERICA. 


^' 


'-'M.  t 


L.v'i.' 


.:t 


Around  his  neck,  he  stood  about  to  take 
The  last  long  leap,  or  plunge,  that  leads  to  hell ; 
So  full  of  me,  he  could  not,  would  not,  yield 
To  God's  demands,  and  bow  repentant  at 
His  feet.     He  held  out  stubborn  to  the  last, 
Or  nearly  so.     But  just  before  the  rope 
Was  cut,  before  the  scaffold  fell,  they  asked 
Him  what  he  wished  to  say.     His  lips  began 
To  move  and  jerk  by  wild  emotion's  wave. 
He  stammered  out, — 

"  All  men  who  hear  or  read, 
Give  ear  to  me :  I  have  a  right  to  speak. 
My  life  to-day  I  give  in  answer  for 
My  crime.     'Tis  just ;  but,  oh  that  this  were  all! 
I  give  my  soul  to  hell,  to  suit  the  law 
Divine :  that  is  far  worse.     The  crime  for  which 
I  die,  with  which  I'm  charged,  I  did  through  ill 
Advice.     I  owe  it  all  to  drink :  'twas  wine 
And  whiskey  led  me  on.     Had  I  not  heard 
To  these,  then  I  were  free.     Beware,  take  heed 
And  warning  by  my  life  ;  avoid  strong  drink. 
To  touch  it  is  to  die.     To  this  cold  world 
I  leave  my  children  dear,  and  wife  who  loved 
Me  far  too  well.     To  God  I  would  commend 


,  t 


THE  BOSS  DEVIL  OF  AMERICA, 


9> 


Their  lives.     Oh,  may  they  never  meet  the  one 
They  loved  on  earth,  beyond  the  tide  of  death  I 
But  find  a  home  beyond,  above  the  land 
Of  endless  woe  to  which  I  haste,  — a  home 
With  God.     Again,  beware  of  drink !     Good-by ! 


M 


The  scaffold  fell ;  Young  Roger  struggled  once, 
And  died,  and  passed  beyond  the  bounds  of  time 
To  pay  the  debt  a  murderer  owes. 


XXXVI. — WORSE   THAN   ALL. 

To  pull  fair  Elsa  down  was  most  my  aim. 
That  Roger  fell,  I  could  rejoice ;  but  joy 
For  me  was  incomplete  while  Elsa  lived 
From  sin.     Her  woe  at  Roger's  loss  was  no 
Small  satisfaction  :  yet  to  see  her  thus 
O'ercome,  subdued,  was  not  enough.     I  gained 
In  this.     She  came  forth  as  a  bride,  all  fair 
And  pure,  beloved,  esteemed,  and  good.     To-day, 
From  deeds  of  mine,  she  stood  a  wreck  in  mind, 
A  widowed  slave  to  public  odium. 
Once  sought  to  grace  and  lend  attraction  to 
The  grandest  entertainments  of  the  rich  ; 
But  now,  alas  \  evaded  by  the  high ; 


I 


¥  n 


1I^ 


'd  . 


92 


T//E  BOSS  DEVIL   OF  AMERICA. 


And  shunned  by  those,  beneath  her  real  worth 
By  far,  she  bent  beneath  my  rod. 

There  were 
A  few  who  sympathized,  and  came  with  hearts 
And  hands  to  spread  the  down  of  sacred  love 
And  fellowship  along  her  thorny  \vay. 
But  these  were  they  who  hate  the  sight  and  name 
Of  me  ;  the  few  whom  I  have  failed  to  bring 
Beneath  my  rod,  whom  my  grand  Foe  has  caught 
To  fill  the  gospel  net.     I  long  in  wish, 
And  work  in  wise  design,  to  conquer  these ; 
But  all  in  vain.     And  yet,  why  fret  for  these  1 
I  have  the  most  by  far ! 


iM 


if- 


I 

lit 

^11 


til 


There's  one  last  way 
To  win  a  case,  with  me,  which  seldom  fails. 
I  move  the  multitude  with  dark  suspect 
Of  him  or  her  whose  life  I  seek  to  win 
For    hell.     There's    nought    so    hard    as   to    be 

thought, 
By  honest  folks,  the  fnend  to  vice,  the  foe 
To  good ;  to  be  thought  guilty  of  a  crime 
From  which  you'd  shrink  with  holy  fear  and  shame. 
This  mood  breeds  thirst  for  drink ;  nay,  more,  a 

thirst 


THE  BOSS  DEVIL  OF  AMERICA, 


93 


To  leave  the  good,  by  which  it  falsely  seems 
You  are  despised,  and  take  the  wrong  by  which 
You  are  embraced.     'Twas  plan  like  this  by  which 
I  caught  the  reverend  Field,     'Twas  plan  like  this 
By  which  I  sought  to  ruin  her,  whose  lord 
I  led  to  blackest  death  before. 


Two  months. 
And  scarcely  that,  had  passed,  when  Elsa  saw 
A  strange  neglect  in  all  her  friends.     They  came 
Seldom,  and  merely  called  to  say  **  good-day," 
And  leave.     Her  heart,  already  well-nigh  broke. 
Could  ill  put  up  with  this.     She  must  have  one 
Or  two  true  friends  to  lean  upon,  or  sink. 


To  those  who  still  remained  her  friends  professed. 
She  spoke  her  grief  out  plain,  —  a  grief  well-nigh 
Despair :  "  What  have  I  done  ?  What  have  I  done^ 
That  all  should  treat  me  thus  ?    That  God  would 

take 
The  children  and  myself  to  him !  *'     In  this 
Complaining  way,  despairing  mood,  she  plead 
For  consolation,  help,  or  sympathy. 
But  none  of  these  they  gave.     No :  poisoned  with 
Suspicion's  breath,  they  smote  and  blessed  at  once 
With  either  hand.     They  said,  — 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT  3) 


1.0 


1.1 


L&|2j8     |25 

|io  ^^*     MH 

■^  Uii    122 
g   1^    12.0 


lyi  11^  ugi 

^ 

6"     

> 

FhotDgFaphic 

Sciences 

Corporaition 


23  WBT  MAIN  STRIET 

WiBSTIR,N.Y.  MSM 

(716)872-4503 


94 


rj/£  BOSS  DEVIL  OF  AMERICA. 


.  3;; 


"  Dear  friend,  beloved, 
Forsaken  one,  thy  children  and  thyself 
Need  care  and  love ;  and  both  we  bring,  in  full 
Supply  to  give.     But  tell  us  first,  hast  thou 
Contrived  and  played  a  part  with  him  in  crime, 
To  aid  thy  husband  on  ?     Didst  thou  assist 
Or  plan  in  either  crime  ?     Or  art  thou  free 
And  innocent  ?    Prove  which  of  these  thou  art. 
And  clear  thyself  of  foul  report,  or  prove 
It  true.  •  If  pure  and  good,  as  we  suppose, 
While  many  more  deny,  then  count  on  us : 
If  not,  we  leave  thee  to  thy  doom."" 


«  f , 


>•?  f 


Twas  quite 
Enough.     Poor  Elsa  screened  her  face  from  view, 
Reclining  motionless ;  and  made  but  one 
Reply,  —  her  moans.     They  hit  on  these  as  proof 
Of  guilt ;  and  colder  grew,  and  bolder  spake. 
Demanding  explanation. 


'-:K'    f- 


t 


•  f        '\\-  :  <     "Yes, 'tis  hard. 
If  thou  hast  sinned,  or  helped  thy  husband  on, 
Then  fail  not  to  expect  the  grief,  its  sure 
Result ;  and  bitter  woe,  reward  of  crime. 
But  answer,  else  thy  moans  we  must  infer 
To  mean  a  wail  of  guilty  grief."         t    .  . 


\: 


THE  BOSS  DEVIL  OF  AMERICA. 


95 


'Twas  hard, 
Indeed,  —  too  hard  to  bear.     Poor  Elsa  moaned 
Again,  —  a  requiem  of  woe,  —  and  that 
Was  all.     She  answered  not  a  word. 


Her  friends 
Began  to  fear.     One  bent  herself  beside 
Poor    Elsa's    couch,    and    whispered    words    of 

hope. 
The  words  were  heeded  not.     The  ear  for  which 
They  came  was  closed  to  all  without,  that  all 
Within  might  best  be  heard.     This  was  an  hour 
Of  great  solemnity. 

The  girl  and  boy 

Clung  to  the  mother's  skirts,  in  tears.    The  girl, 
The  younger  of  the  two,  with  sunny  curls 
Just  budding  out,  cried,  "  Ma,  ma,  take  me  up ! " 
And  reached  its  little  hands  in  attitude 
Of  earnest  pleading.     But  the  boy,  somewhat 
More  grown,  had  sense  of  shame  and  fear,  he 

knew 
Not  why ;  and  hid  his  face,  and  cried  aloud. 
To  all  the  sinking  mother  answered  with 
Repeated  moans,  as  dying  from  despair. 


I 


,' 


■-'/ 


r^' 


i 


»  »     .  s 


m 


»  I 


96 


r//E  BOSS  DEVIL  OF  AMERICA, 


Of  all  the  devils  I  am  boss.     Of  this 

I  spake  before ;  and  this  you  now  may  see 

In  horrid  order  of  display.     To  add 

Or  multiply  a  woman's  grief,  a  wife's 

Despair,  a  mother's  woe,  is  that  in  which 

I  prove  my  title  to  my  special  rank. 

All  other  grief  but  mine  may  be  withstood. 

But  that  which  I  contrive  will  break  the  best 

Of  human  hearts ;  will  disarrange  and  craze 

The  best  of  human  minds.     / 

\  By  grief  like  this 

I  slay  those  whom  I  cannot  win,  destroy 
Those  whom  I  cannot  prostitute,  or  bring 
To  degradation.     And  with  grief  like  this 
I  captured  Elsa,  by  a  plan  as  wise 
As  black. 


!!■» 


:^- 


XXXVII.  —  FAIR  ELSA  S   DEED,  OR  MINE. 

When  left  alone,  fair  Elsa  rose,  and  closed 

The  windows  down,  and  shut  the  doors.     She  took 

The  youngest  child  of  two,  a  little  girl 

But  one  year  old,  and  clasped  it  to  her  breast ; 

Then  held  it  up  to  God,  and  bade  him  claim 


u. 


1. 1 


THE  BOSS  DEVIL   OF  AMERICA. 


97 


His  own.     In  frantic  mien,  she  pressed  her  boy 
The  same.     Then  from  a  secret  till  she  took 
The  fatal  phial,  (obtained  we'll  mind  not  where), 
And  mixed  a  dose  for  each. 


This  done,  she  knelt 
And  prayed :  "  My  God,  who  knoweth  all 
My  woe,  hear  thou  my  prayer.     I'm  guilty  of 
No  crime,  yet  crime  is  in  my  heart,  and  crime 
I  mean  to  do.     My  grief  has  reached  a  pitch 
I  cannot  bear.     For  me  to  live  is  shame. 
Reared  by  a  holy  mother's  hand,  I  grew 
To  love  the  right,  and  hate  the  wrong.     By  some 
Sad  fate,  I  loved  a  man  who  loved  the  cup  : 
That  love  has  sealed  my  doom.     A  widow  of 
A  murderer,  suspected  too  of  crime 
Myself,  I  cannot  longer  live.     I  raise 
My  hand  to  cut  the  thread  that  binds  my  life 
To  earth.     Oh,  grant  this  as  thy  will !    To  leave 
My  children  here,  alas !  I  never  can  : 
I'll  take  them  hence  with  me  to  thee ;  and,  one 
In  either  hand,  I  shall  appear.     Forgive 
If  this  is  sin  or  crime :  to  me  it  seems 
The  right.     If  wrong,  if  sin  enough  to  shut 
Me  out  from  God,  then  take  the  children  home ; 


■! 


i 


!l 


98 


THE  BOSS  DEVIL   OF  AMERICA. 


And  send  me  down  to  join  him  whom  I  loved 

On  earth,  and,  while  I  have  this  h^art,  must  love 

In  all  the  ages  yet  to  come,  in  earth 

Or  hell  or  heaven.     If  he  must  suffer  there 

For  evermore,  to  pay  for  crimes  strong  drink 

Induced  him  to  commit,  then,  if  I  am 

To  choose,  give  me  my  lot  with  him  ;  but  take 

The  children  to  thyself.     Amen ! " 

This  prayer — 
If  prayer  it  was  —  completed,  Elsa  rose, 
And  sat  herself  to  write  the  world  a  last 
Farewell. 


"  Adieu,  cold,  cruel  world !     Farewell ! 
I  leave  to-day,  and  take  those  whom  I  claim 
A  right  to  take,  —  my  girl  and  boy.     To  save 
Them  from  such  grief  as  I  have  met,  is  cause 
Enough,  excuse  enough,  for  this.     To  give 
A  reason  further  for  the  deed  against  myself, 
Would  be  to  speak  against  accusers  whose 
Vile  accusations  make  my  grief  as  hard 
To  bear,  as  they  are  false.     I  die  as  free 
From  crime,  except  the  crime  which  ends 
My  life  and  theirs  I  bore,  as  infant  child. 


\ 


THE  BOSS  DEVIL  OF  AMERICA, 


99 


Those  who  suspect  me  of  complicity 

With  crimes  which  proved  my  husband's  death,  I 

charge 
As  guilty  of  all  crime  which  I  commit. 
God  bless  my  ma  and  pa,  and  all  the  friends 
At  home,  —  a  home  once  dear,  yet  dear,  but  which 
I  cannot  mar  by  presence  such  as  mine. 
I  bid  that  home,  and  this,  and  all  the  world. 
Adieu ! " 


This  note  she  left  where  all  who  came 
Would  see  and  read.     She  dressed  the  little  girl 
For  bed,  and  gave  the  dose  in  full  supply. 
Just  after  prayers  were  said.     The  boy  was  next 
Prepared  ;  and,  taking  his,  was  placed  beside 
The  girl.     The  mother  drank  the  portion  left,    . 
Intended  for  herself,  and  took  her  place 
Between  the  girl  and  boy,  with  head  of  one 
On  either  arm.     In  triune  sleep  they  fell, 
To  wake  no  more  in  time. 


XXXVIII.  —  CONCLUSION. 

To  estimate 
The  crime  and  woe  I  bring  to  man  each  year. 


100 


THE  BOSS  DEVIL   OF  AMERICA. 


Just  multiply  the  whole  that  I  have  said 

Throughout  the  pages  of  this  little  book, 

Five  million  times.     The  sum  of  this  will  fall 

Below  true  estimate  of  yearly  gain 

To  hell,  from  earth,  by  work  of  mine.     To  find 

The  total  sum  of  all  I've  done  to  man 

Since  I  began,  increase  or  multiply 

The  whole  a  thousand  times  or  more,  and  still 

The  half  is  yet  untold. 


If ' 


If  man  were  rid 
Of  me,  the  earth  would  be  a  paradise. 
Nine-tenths  of  all  the  ills,  of  all  the  woes, 
That  men  inflict,  would  disappear,  were  I 
Dismissed.     To  rid  the  earth  of  me  would  be 
To  conquer  hell,  to  put  an  end  to  plans 
My  father  fitly  makes.     It  can't  be  done  I 
I  challenge  all  mankind,  the  angels,  and 
Their  God,  to  drive  me  from  the  earth. 


The  law, 
As  made  by  men,  has  tried  to  prohibit 
My  stay  with  th^m.     A  farce  indeed  !     I  can 
Defy  all  men,  all  law,  all  powers,  all  states. 
And  nations  too.     Not  God  himself  has  yet 


\ 


THE  BOSS  DEVIL  OF  AMERICA,  loi 

Contrived  a  way  —  or  if,  his  way  is  yet 
Untried  —  to  put  me  down.     I  live,  and  work 
My  work  of  death,  defiant  to  all  law 
And  God. 

A  few,  called  temperance  men,  —  a  lot 
Of  sorry  fools,  —  assail  my  throne  with  blast 
Of  trumpet  to  attract,  with  pledge  and  law, 
To  bind  them  back  from  sin,  and  me  from  deeds 
Of  crime.    Their  cause  is  good  enough,  —  the  best 
Of  all  but  one  except.     But  by  a  plan 
Contrived  and  put  in  force  by  me,  the  cause 
Has  been  disgraced  by  men  below  its  rank. 
So  much  is  this  the  case,  that  men  of  means 
And  rank  of  honor,  or  of  name,  evade 
A  place  amid  their  ranks,  and  keep  silent 
Concerning  me,  which  means  for  n:.ie  to  thrive. 


The  temperance  work,  so  called,  has  aims  all  right, 
But  fails  in  wisdom  to  attain  the  right 
It  seeks.     Its  plans  are  slim,  unpopular, 
And  weak.     The  men  who  seek  to  execute 
These  plans  are  not  the  men  for  any  work, 
Except  a  very  few.     They've  left  the  church 
Of  God  because  they  could  not  lead  or  speak  and 
pray 


I02 


THE  BOSS  DEVIL  OF  AMERICA, 


I 


EH- 


The  most ;  and  sought  another  field  in  which 
Their  talents  to  display.     In  this  they  make 
The  most  of  what  they  have  the  least.     They  do 
More  harm  than  good,  "  excepting  here  and  there 
A  man,"  more  good  than  harm  to  me.    These  stand 
Between  all  danger  and  my  throne. 

Would  men  succeed 
In  driving  me  from  earth,  let  me  suggest 
The  plan.     If  wisdom  such  as  mine  has  won 
The  race  this  far,  may  not  the  same  contrive 
A  way  to  overthrow  itself }     Since  all 
The  efforts  of  all  time,  or  nearly  so, 
Against  my  crown  have  failed,  I'll  condescend, 
Myself,  to  tell  what  must  be  done  to  win 
In  fight  when  I  oppose.     It  may  seem  strange, 
That  I  impart  advice  against  myself : 
It  only  seems.     Advice  against  myself 
Will  do  no  harm  except  you  heed ;  and  heed 
You  never  will. 

I  must  be  fought  by  man, 
Assisted  by  his  God,  this  way,  if  he 
Would  win  :  The  army  must  divide  in  two, 
A  right  wing  and  a  left,  —  the  right,  the  Church ; 


THE  BOrS  DEVIL   OF  AMERICA, 


103 


The  left,  the  world.     I  am  a  foe  alike 

To    Christian,    Jew,   and    Gentile.     Hence    the 

Church 
And  man  without  the  Church,  should  stand  against 
My  arms.     The  first,  the  Church,  must  take  a  step 
Of  bold  resolve,  and  make  the  pledge  to  keep, 
A  test  of  membership.     While  Christians  drink 
Without  expulsion  from  the  ranks  of  God, 
No  hope  is  left  to  rid  the  world  of  me. 
The  second  step  the  world  must  take,  and  form 
The  army's  strong  left  wing.     It  must  provide 
A  place,  a  time,  a  plan,  at  which,  by  which. 
The  young,  in  social  interchange  of  thought 
And  word,  may  meet,  and  spend  their  leisure  hours. 
Mankind  was  made  for  intercourse,  as  well 
For  fellowship.     Man  cannot  live  alone. 
The  sexes  are  alike  in  this.     To  meet 
Each  other  often  here,  and  talk  and  laugh 
And  joke,  is  simple  nature  working  out 
Its  grand  designs. 


I  come  to  meet  and  cheer 
The  stranger  on  his  way,  and  find  him  friends. 
There's  not  a  day  of  time  in  which,  because  of  me, 
A  thousand  do  not  meet  who  never  met 


104 


THE  BOSS  DEVIL  OF  AMERICA. 


>:li 

|!".< 


t 


Before.     I  place  their  hands  in  mutual  grasp, 
And  call  their  names,  and  recommend  their  style. 
The  Church  of  God  is  cold ;  not  by  design 
Of  God,  but  fault  of  men.     Here  people  go, 
And  starve  for  social  bread,  and  turn  away 
As  from  the  chamber  of  the  dead.     They  seek 
A  place  of  smiles,  of  freely  flowing  words. 
Of  kind  remark,  advice,  and  cheer.     Do  I 
Not  furnish  this,  and  more  t 

Let  him  who  would 
Die  great  in  name,  excel  in  deed  of  good 
For  man,  contrive  a  mighty  plan,  divine 
A  mighty  scheme,  by  which,  in  village  or 
In  town  or  city  great  or  small,  the  young. 
And  all  who  wish,  may  meet  at  will,  at  rooms 
And  hall,  where  all  amusements,  sports,  and  fun 
Will  give  a  bloom  to  health,  and  strength  to  mind, 
And  wholesome  cheer  to  every  heart.     Divide 
Or  classify  the  whole,  and  make  a  place 
Where  both  the  sexes,  on  a  common  plane, 
May  share  each  other's  inspiration.     It 
Is  lack  of  such  a  place,  that  makes  demand 
For  me.     Until  the  world  can  give  the  joys 
That  I  impart,  the  world  will  drink  for  joy 
Which  turns  to  pain.     Not  one  in  ten  who  drink. 


THE  BOSS  DEVIL  OF  AMERICA, 


I  OS 


But  feel  its  wrong ;  yet  do  they  drink  the  less  ? 
Nay,  but  the  more.     Then  give  a  reason  why 
They  drink  at  all !     Just  here  your  wisdom  fails, 
And  here  I  will  explain.     Men  drink,  as  rule, 
To  find  a  cheer,  to  feel  a  joy,  to  think 
In  hope,  that  liquor  gives  :  that's  why.     They  do 
Not  stop  to  think  or  care  about  results. 
Now  furnish,  if  you  can,  a  fellowship 
Enriched  by  melody,  whate'er  you  will, 
To  take  my  place,  and  I'll  resign  and  quit. 
But  until  then  the  world  wants  me,  and  could 
Not  well  dispense  with  what  I  give ;  though  what 
I  give  is  worse  than  death. 


Young  man  or  maid,  whoever  reads,  take  heed 
From  what  I  say.     Beware  of  me  I     If  young, 
Then  all  the  more  evade  my  path.     Of  those 
Who  learn  to  drink  in  youth,  by  far  the  most 
Succeed  in  reaching  woe,  or  early  death. 
A  few  may  drag  their  lives  to  ripe  old  age. 
But  not  the  less  to  waste.     No  man  is  safe 
Who  drinks.     No  man  is  wise  who  drinks. 

drink   . 
Is  to  support  a  work  of  death  ;  to  help 
The  man  who  seeks  to  ruin  you.     With  this 


To 


io6 


THE  BOSS  DEVIL   OF  AMERICA, 


i 


mi 


I'll  dry  my  pen,  and  write  no  more.     You  have 

My  first  attempt  to  write  a  book  :  it's  long 

Enough,  and  bad  enough,  but  not  so  bad 

As  I.     Thus  saying,  reader,  I  withdraw, 

And  bid  adieu,  but  leave  my  card.     Keep  this  : 

You  yet  may  wish  to  call  on  me,  to  quench 

Your  wicked  thirst.     If  so,  and  you  have  cash,  — 

But  not  unless,  —  I'll  entertain  you  well 

With  wine,  or  what  is  better  still,  —  but  which 

I  cannot  call  by  name  without  offence. 

I  don't  advise  a  call,  but  rather  warn 

You  not  to  come  :  yet  all  the  same,  and  more, 

You'll  come,  and  taste,  and  sin,  and  die  at  last 

In  shame.     Please  keep  this  card,  in  case  you  lose 

Your  way.     I  write  it  plain :  — 


The  Boss  Devil,  —  King  Alcohol. 


POSTSCRIPT. 


De^^  reader,  have  you  heard  the  story  of  that 

Italian  artist,  who,  meeting  with  a  child  of  exquisite 

beauty,  wished  to  preserve  its  features  for  fear  he 

should  never  see   such  loveliness  again?    So  he 

painted  the  charming  face  upon  the  canvas,  and 

hung  it  upon  the  wall  of  his  studio.     In  his  som- 

berest  hours,  that  sweet,  gentle  countenance  was 

like  an  angel  of  light  to  him.     Its  presence  filled 

his  soul  with  the  purest  aspirations.    "If  ever  I 

find,"  he  said,  "a  perfect  contrast  to  that  beauteous 

face,  I  will  paint  that  also,  and  hang  them  side  by 

side,  an  ideal  of  Heaven  and  Hell."    Years  passed. 

At  length  in  a  distant  land  he  saw,  in  a  prison  he 

visited,  the  most  hideous  object  he  ever  gazed  upon, 

—  a  fierce,  haggard  fiend,  with  glaring  eyes,  and 

cheeks  deeply  furrowed  with  lust  and  crime.    The 

107 


if 


io8 


POSTSCRIPT, 


\m 


\ 


I 


artist  remembered  his  vow,  and  immediately  painted 
a  picture  of  this  loathsome  form,  to  hang  beside  the 
portrait  of  the  lovely  boy.  The  contrast  was  per- 
fect: his  dream  was  realized;  the  two  poles  of 
the  moral  universe  were  before  him.  What  was 
the  surprise  of  this  artist,  on  inquiry  into  the  his- 
tory of  this  horrid  wretch,  to  find  he  was  once  that 
lovely  little  boy  !  Both  of  these  pictures,  the  angel 
and  the  demon  of  the  same  soul,  now  hang  side  by 
side  in  a  Tuscan  gallery.  „ 

Blind  reader,  you  need  not  travel  to  a  foreign 
gallery  to  see  the  transforming  power  of  drink,  and 
its  attendant  vices  upon  the  body.  That  brazen- 
faced, wanton-looking  wretch  of  womanhood  was 
once  a  sweet,  modest  little  girl,  who  blushed  at  the 
slightest  indelicate  allusion.  That  obese,  bloated, 
brandy-burnt  visage  was  once  a  joyous-hearted  boy. 
I  need  not  ask  what  strange  alchemy  has  wrought 
this  bestial  transformation.  They  have  been  in  the 
hard  battles  of  appetite  and  lust,  and  carry  the 
marks  of  their  warfare.  In  the  basement-cells  of 
inebriety,  and  saloons  of  licentiousness,  many  youth- 
ful forms  are  sitting  for  their  portraits.  The  demon 
artists  of  lust  and  intemperance  are  gradually  mould- 
ing them  into  fiends.    You   may,  young  reader, 


\ 


^4 


te 


POSTSCRIPT. 


109 


Steal  secretly  into  these  hells  of  inebriety  and  har- 
lotry. Your  kind  parents  and  friends  may  not  sus- 
pect your  waywardness,  but  your  "  sin  will  find  you 
out."  Vice  cannot  long  remain  concealed :  the 
soul  has  no  place  to  hide  it.  Soon  the  foul  flame, 
through  some  rent  or  fissure  of  the  body,  will  find 
expression. 

Strong  drink  is  the  one  great  curse  of  America, 
of  the  worid.  Young  lady,  shun  the  wine-cup  as 
you  would  a  serpent ;  and  fall  not  into  the  hands 
of  the  young  man  that  loves  his  glass,  lest  you  are 
bruised  by  his  fall.  Shun  liquor,  and  you  will  shun 
three-fourths  of  all  the  ills  of  human  life. 


t 


m 


r~ 


THE 


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